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Springfield Museums, Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

March 2 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm EST

seuss bday 2024

Festivities Aplenty as Dr. Seuss Turns 120!

Join us for an all-day salute to beloved children’s author and Springfield-native Theodor Seuss Geisel on his 120th birthday! Free with museum admission!

The Springfield Museums have planned a full day of family-friendly fun!

As Seuss might say: You’ll see the Cat. The Lorax. And the bubble guy too! Make a cake-hat. Or a bookmark. Catch a red fish – or two!

Here’s what’s planned:

The Cat in the Hat, 11 am-1 pm
Meet and greet with the famous feline. Blake Court, First Floor, D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts

The Lorax, 12-3 pm
Meet the mustachioed activist who speaks for the trees! Canavan Gallery, Second Floor, GWV Smith Art Museum

Character Appearances
The Cat in the Hat, 11 am-1 pm
Meet and greet with the famous feline. Blake Court, First Floor, D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts

The Lorax, 12-3 pm
Meet the mustachioed activist who speaks for the trees! Canavan Gallery, Second Floor, GWV Smith Art Museum

Reading of The Cat in the Hat, 1:30-2pm
Join us for a reading of Dr. Seuss’s most popular book, alongside the Cat himself! Davis Auditorium, Lower Level, D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts

Entertainment
Professor Knows A-Lot, 11 am-3 pm
Get a balloon animal buddy! Line closes @ 2:30 pm. Discovery Lab, Lower Level, Springfield Science Museum

Pete & Chris Amusements, 11 am-3 pm
Treat yourself to Truffula Tree cotton candy! Quadrangle Green (Weather permitting, cotton candy not permitted inside Museums)

Big Bubbles with Mr. Vinny, 11 am-3 pm
Gather on the Quad for Mr. Vinny’s Big Bubble show—chase and pop these giant bubbles designed by Mr. Vinny himself! Quadrangle Green (Weather permitting)

Ongoing Activities
It’s a Piece of Cake! Fascinators, 11 am-3 pm
Make special headwear…it’s a piece of cake! Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with this wacky accessory. Science Workshop, Second Floor, Springfield Science Museum

Dr. Seuss Trivia, 11 am-3 pm
Test your knowledge on all things Dr. Seuss! African Hall, First Floor, Springfield Science Museum

Birthday Joke Booth, 11 am-3 pm
Want a laugh? Listen to a birthday themed joke at our joke booth. Various galleries, Springfield Science Museum

One Fish, Two Fish Fishing Pool, 11 am-3 pm
Go fishing for red fish, blue fish and more in this game! Connecticut River Exhibit, Lower Level, Springfield Science Museum

Bookmarks, 12-4 pm
Make a bookmark inspired by our friend the Lorax! Art Discovery Center, Second Floor, GWV Smith Art Museum

Celebrate with Cupcakes!, 12-4 pm
Enjoy a sweet treat to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday! One cupcake per person, while supplies last. Studios, Lower Level, GWV Smith Art Museum (Food not permitted in upper levels)

Please note that while the birthday activities will be open to all visitors, timed entry to the Dr. Seuss Museum is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis on the day of the event in the Welcome Center. Arrive early to secure desired entry time.

Activities and locations subject to change. Please pick up a daily schedule in our Welcome Center.

If you would like to purchase a ticket using one of our many discounts, a reciprocal membership or gift certificate, you will need to do this transaction in person on the day of your visit at the Welcome Center.

horton court seuss sculpture garden

cat in the hat statue at springfield museums

Cat in The Hat Statue at Springfield Museums

Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, wanted to engage children in reading that was exciting and fun, not like the old Dick and Jane primers most teachers in the 1950s used to teach reading to children. In order to create a new and better early reader, Geisel considered a list of words for beginning readers. After some contemplation, he decided to begin his story with the first two words that rhymed: “cat” and “hat.” The rest is history. Although The Cat in the Hat (1957) didn’t at first find favor with teachers—the cat was too mischievous, too zany—children loved it. Some said the book sold by “playground word of mouth” as children told other children how wonderful the page-turner was. In other words, Dr. Seuss revolutionized learning to read by making it FUN!

The Cat in the Hat also found acclaim with book reviewers. In 1957 New York Times writer Ellen Lewis Buell was impressed by the simple vocabulary and lively illustrations. “Beginning readers and parents who have been helping them through the dreary activities of Dick and Jane and other primer characters are due for a happy surprise,” she wrote.

The Cat in the Hat sold more than a million copies by its third year of publication and remains to this day among the top sellers for children’s books. Many of Dr. Seuss’s books remain on best seller lists, notably Green Eggs and Ham (1960); One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (1960); Dr.Seuss’s ABC (1963); and Oh, the Places You’ll Go! ( 1990).

https://www.seussinspringfield.org/who-dr-seuss

Details

Date:
March 2
Time:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm EST
Website:
https://springfieldmuseums.org/program/hair-party-dr-seuss-birthday-celebration/

Venue

Springfield Museums
21 Edwards Street
Springfield, MA 01103
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Phone
(413) 263-6800
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