ROM for the Holidays fills the Museum’s galleries with cosmic wonder from
December 26, 2015 to January 3, 2016.
Planet ROM takes families to a faraway galaxy with a Mars rover prototype, touchable meteorite from Mars, a Space Arcade, and more.
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is bringing families on an intergalactic journey with Planet ROM for the Holidays. Engaging and educational programs explore the planets, stars, aliens, astronauts, and ancient astronomers in a whole new way! Surprising discoveries make this a holiday season to remember with free daily programming including the Canadian Space Agency’s prototype Mars rover, Russian spacewalking gloves on loan from CSA astronaut Chris Hadfield, and ROM-inspired Game Jam video games.
Museum visitors will be treated to on-site ice carving, delicious culinary experiences for children, and extreme balloon artistry by Mark Verge. A festive tree will be decorated by visitors with origami creations, and family entertainment is provided by FringeKids! theatre performances.
ROM’s Early Learner’s Lounge hosts activities for families with younger children, including interactive musical journeys with Mabel Moon.
Still looking for that perfect holiday gift? The ROM Boutique offers an array of home décor and fashion apparel, as well as exciting and educational children’s toys, books, and games. For those who treasure the gift of experience there are different levels of Membership available, and ROM Gifts of Wonder allow you to give a meaningful gift to someone on your list while supporting educational programs at the Museum.
Holiday Hours
December 25: Closed
December 26: 10 AM - 5:30 PM
December 27: 10 AM - 8:30 PM
December 28: 10 AM - 8:30 PM
December 29: 10 AM - 8:30 PM
December 30: 10 AM - 8:30 PM
December 31: 10 AM - 5:30 PM
January 1: 10 AM - 5:30 PM
January 2: 10 AM - 8:30 PM
January 3: 10 AM - 5:30 PM
Family Programs
Programming runs daily from 11 AM – 4 PM
Drop-in programs are included with General Museum admission
Featured Exhibitions:
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Discover the captivating beauty of the natural world as the ROM presents the Canadian premiere of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, presented by Quark Expeditions®. Now in its 51st year, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition attracts tens of thousands of submissions by photographers of all ages from around the world every year.
Programming
- Meet live animals with daily visitors from the Ontario Specialized Species Centre
- Make a memory with the Quark Expeditions® selfie station
- Submit your best wildlife photos for a chance to win a trip to the Arctic with Quark Expeditions®
Pompeii: In the Shadow of the Volcano
The ROM’s engagement of Pompeii, enjoyed by more than 200,000 visitors to date,features approximately 200 artifacts including exquisite mosaics and jewellery, remarkably preserved objects of everyday life, and iconic body casts. Open only until January 3, 2016, the family-friendly exhibition tells the story of an ancient city frozen in time – and examines its astonishing legacy.
Programming
- Daily activations with pieces from ROM Learning Collections exploring The City and People of Pompeii.
- Facilitated toga and mosaic stations