Fun family activities
The Museum offers engaging programs and events for all ages everyday. No matter the season, you will enjoy the art, history, and nature of this inspiring property.
Sundays, April—September. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to participate.
On Discovery Sundays, included with Museum admission, visitors can choose from a variety of hands-on activities in the Hartman Education Center. Supplied with canvas, palette, paint, brushes, a smock, and a lesson in color mixing and painting techniques, visitors discover why Miss Florence’s was THE place to paint! In good weather, guests can paint outside en plein air just as the artists did over 100 years ago.
Have a young art-lover or artist in your life? Every summer the Florence Griswold Museum offers over two months worth of Art Camps geared for different ages, from Kindergarten all the way through sixth grade. Young artists learn important artistic skills and concepts, try their hand at many different types of media, and build an artistic community together through fun games and activities. Each Art Camp ends with an art show of work by the week’s campers, and we encourage family and friends to attend to celebrate their accomplishments!
Visiting the Florence Griswold Museum in the fall? The beloved annual autumnal event Wee Faerie Village takes place outdoors on the grounds every October. Teams of talented artists transform our entire site into a wee faerie wonderland with small-scaled miniature structures inspired by a rotating theme, different each year. Many use natural and found materials to create their incredible works of miniature art.
Pick up a set of Can You Find Me? Cards and search for details in artworks featured in the current exhibitions in the Krieble Galleries or at the historic Florence Griswold boardinghouse. It’s a fun search-and-find for all ages, and encourages everyone to look up close at the art!
Artists came to Old Lyme to paint outdoors, and several used portable studios to help them do so in cold or wet weather. The Benjamin Eggleston Portable
Studio and Art Cart was recreated from a photograph of artist Eggleston’s portable studio, which he could pull to his desired painting spot. Today, visitors find kits with hands-on art and nature activities inside. Take one with you as you explore the grounds.
Available April–November. Find the Art Cart on the Museum grounds near the historic gardens and the Landscape Center.
Every last full weekend of July, the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut celebrates its artistic heritage with a Midsummer Festival. Put on by the partners of the Old Lyme Arts District, this special celebration of art, community, and family fun has something for all ages. With signature events such as a classic car show, community dog show, local vendors and artists, food trucks, family fun activities, and live music it’s a destination-worthy event each summer on the Connecticut shoreline.
Parties include:
Child-friendly guided tours by the Museum Educators
Hands-on arts and crafts projects led by Museum Educators
Use of the Hartman Education Center for food, cake, and presents (not included).
Click here to learn more about hosting a birthday party at the FloGris.
Family Fun FAQs
Yes! We believe you are never too young to love going to a museum. In the galleries we offer family-friendly activities related to the exhibitions on view. Docents in the historic Griswold House engage all visitors with age-appropriate information and anecdotes about Miss Florence and the artists of the Lyme Art Colony. Outside visitors can borrow art and nature kits from the Art Cart to enjoy and explore while on the grounds.
Sundays, April—September: visitors of all ages are encouraged to participate in Discovery Sundays. Included with Museum admission, visitors can choose from a variety of hands-on activities in the Hartman Education Center. Supplied with canvas, palette, paint, brushes, a smock, and a lesson in color mixing and painting techniques, visitors discover why Miss Florence’s was THE place to paint! In good weather, guests can paint outside en plein air just as the artists did over 100 years ago.
Families especially love the immersive nature of Wee Faerie Village. For at least a month each fall visitors delight in the imagination and whimsy of over two dozen pint-sized installations across the Museum’s campus. Teams of local artists make their installations from scratch, often working with natural and found materials to evoke the Museum’s beautiful landscape. Upon check-in, visitors receive a map that guides them to each house’s location, tells the story of the faeries who live there, and invites close looking for a special hidden object.
Click here to learn more about Wee Faerie Village!
Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival, a celebration of art, music, food, and family fun is a summertime fan favorite event, celebrating the shared artistic heritage of our historic shoreline Connecticut town. Every last full weekend of July, the Festival kicks off with a free outdoor concert on the riverfront lawn of the Florence Griswold Museum. On Saturday, the Old Lyme Arts District partners present a full day of family friendly activities. A classic car show, local art vendors, food trucks, a community dog show, a 5K road race, live music, and much more.
Click here to learn more about Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival!
During the winter holidays the Museum campus lights up! Families have made Holiday Magic a not-to-be-missed annual tradition. Nearly 300 creative palettes designed by artists from across the country are displayed on magnificent trees and displays across the Museum. Miss Florence’s historic boardinghouse is decked for a 1910 holiday with opulent mantels and delightful décor in the period rooms. And in the Marshfield house, enjoy sumptuous décor when you join us for a seating at Miss Florence’s Teas, a perennial favorite for all ages.
Becoming a Museum Member is a great way to introduce your whole family to the joys of art, history, and nature that the Florence Griswold Museum has in spades. By supporting the Museum and becoming a Member, you will gain access to a whole host of benefits. Unlimited Museum admission, a 10% discount in our FloGris Shop and at seasonal Café Flo, discounts on Museum events, programs, and classes, and invitations to special Members only events are just the start.
Yes! Café Flo offers a children’s menu with several tasty options. Family friendly offerings include: grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and macaroni and cheese.
