Name: Homecoming Week
Start: 2024-09-30T12:00:00-04:00
End: 2024-10-05T16:30:00-04:00
Location: 13240 S West Bayshore Dr, Traverse City, MI, United States, Michigan 49684

It is hard to believe that the Great Lakes Museum has been open on S. West Bay Shore Drive for over 18 years. While we’re excited for the future of the Museum, we think it’s important to celebrate its past. That’s why, before we relocate to the Grand Traverse Mall, we’re throwing our very own Homecoming Week at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum!
Homecoming week is going to be a six-day celebration of how much this special place has grown and changed over the past 18 years and the people in the community that have helped make it happen. The week will feature prizes, store discounts, a parade of popular crafts, and best of all, free admission for everyone!
Free Admission
Since 2006, thousands of people from all over Michigan, the United States and the world have come to learn and play at our humble little Museum. Adults who came to the Children’s Museum as children are now bringing their little ones to play in our exhibits. We think that’s pretty special. Whether you’re an adult who played in the water table when you were small or a grandparent who visited the Museum with your family for the first time last week, you’re invited to celebrate with us. And because we want to make it easy for those who care about the Great Lakes Children’s Museum to be a part of Homecoming, we’re offering free admission for every person!
No secret coupon codes necessary. Just make a reservation for any day and time between September 30 and October 5; your total will be $0! As with all special events at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum, we recommend making a reservation ahead of time. The Museum takes walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis.
Post a pic and win a kit!
To spread the word and the nostalgia, we’re asking you to post photos of your family playing in the Museum. Whether it was taken 10 years ago or 10 days ago, we want to see it! Post it to Facebook or Instagram and tag the Great Lakes Children’s Museum. Each photo posted between September 30 and October 5 will enter you into a raffle for the chance to win a Big Craft Kit, valued at $25! Please note: these kits are too big to drop in the mail. All winners must be able to pick up their prize.
Power of Play Store Clearance Sale
Our Power of Play store is full of toys, games, and books that we’d rather send home with you than pack up and bring to our new location. To help lighten the load, the store is having a moving sale. Do some early Christmas shopping or stock up on rainy day activities with fun, educational items discounted up to 50%. Plus, any purchase made during Homecoming Week will earn you a free vintage GLCM tote bag!
Get crafty with tons of activities all week long!
As you can imagine, after 18 years-worth of artistic exploration, our closets and cabinets are LOADED with craft supplies. Because we can’t take all of them with us to our new location, we need your help turning those supplies into colorful creations during Homecoming Week. It’s going to be an artistic explosion, and you’re invited! Plus, anyone who makes any size donation to the Children’s Museum can create and take home a tie dye t-shirt or sand jar!