Creativity goes wild during March Break at ROM

TORONTO, March 5 – Trade screen time for discovery mode this March Break with nine days of unique programming for families at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). From Saturday, March 14 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, the Museum becomes a playground for curious minds, where kids lead the way and grown-ups rediscover their sense of wonder.

Pack your March Break with wildlife-themed performances and activities – inspired by dinosaurs, bats, and so much more from ROM’s world-renowned natural history collections – or seize the chance to catch the soon-to-close Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 and Sharks special exhibitions. Kids – and kids at heart – can also create wildlife-themed art, visit face-painting stations to transform into their favourite animal, and learn about amazing creatures past and present by getting hands-on with ancient fossils and other amazing Museum objects.

Immerse yourself in an enhanced Museum environment as ROM’s galleries are transformed with playful décor for March Break – explore the natural habitats of various Canadian animals and birds in the vignettes across Philosopher’s Gallery, with large-scale photographs, visuals, and natural textures woven throughout. And don’t miss the interactive stations and displays referencing real specimens and objects from ROM’s collections – all great backdrops for that ideal Instagram shot!

March Break programming will be presented throughout the Museum and is included with regular admission.

“With a mix of playful wildlife-themed activities and popular exhibitions like Sharks, ROM promises to be the perfect family destination this March Break,” says Jennifer Wild, ROM Interim Co-Director & CEO. “Here, families can create animal-themed art, chat with curators, and get hands-on with real-life specimens – all while spending quality time together.”

March Break at ROM features a busy schedule of daily activities inspired by the natural world – perfect for families looking for meaningful, engaging ways to spend the school break.

MARCH BREAK ACTIVITIES

Philosopher’s Gallery – Level 1

Wild Photo Walk

Daily | 10 am to 4 pm

Pick up a camera and follow a trail through gallery scenes – capturing shapes, patterns, and wildlife moments. Printed photos become instant keepsakes, and images taken by visitors will be included in fun crowdsourced digital murals shown throughout the week on screens in the gallery (check to see if your photo appears!).

Ask a ROM Expert 

Daily | 10 am to 4 pm 

Meet Museum experts for an up-close look at real specimens from ROM’s collections. From fish and mammals to bugs and fungi, there’s something new to explore every day of March Break!

Animal Face Painting 

Daily | 11 am to 3 pm 

Kids can choose their favourite animal from a selection of designs and let our artists transform them into a creature from the wild!

Earth Rangers Studio – Level 2

What’s Fluttering By? 
March 14-20 | 10 am to 4 pm 

Inspired by the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, examine the subtle distinctions between moths and butterflies. Visitors can view real specimens, create their own winged artwork, and transform into wildlife at a colourful selfie station!

BASF Kids’ Lab – Create a Chromatography Butterfly 
March 21-22 | 10 am to 4 pm 

This hands-on workshop explores the chemistry of colour using chromatography, a process that separates the different pigments in inks and dyes. Participants create their own vibrant butterfly designs to take home, while seeing how colours separate and blend to make unique patterns.
 

ONGOING PROGRAMS 

Shark Sleuths!
Hands-on Biodiversity and WonderWorks – Level 2
Running until March 22, 2026 | 10 am to 5:30 pm

Dive into the fascinating world of sharks and discover why these iconic ocean predators deserve respect instead of fear. Visitors will explore what defines a shark, examine shark anatomy, and understand the critical role sharks play in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems.

In the WonderWorks play space, explore a series of engaging, family-friendly activations centered around the fascinating world of sharks, skates, and rays – designed to spark curiosity and learning.

Sharks-related programming is generously presented by Desjardins Financial Group.

Hike the ROM
Trail Guides available at Admissions & Info Desk – Level 1

Get your daily steps in with Hike the ROM. These free and self-guided experiences take visitors on engaging and educational walks through the Museum’s permanent galleries. 

With three themes available – Climate Change, Eternal Life, and Walk on the Wild Side – each Hike offers a different route and encourages visitors to exercise both the body and the mind through encounters with objects and specimens from ROM collections.
 

PERFORMANCES

Scott Jackson
Chen Court – Weekdays
1:45-2 pm | 2:45-3 pm | 3:45-4 pm

Beatboxing champion Scott Jackson, who has wowed audiences around the world for the past 15 years, will return to ROM, incorporating animal sounds into his captivating live sets.

Gallivanting Giraffes

Currelly Gallery – Weekdays
1-1:15 pm | 2-2:15 pm | 3-3:15 pm

These rare beasts of the savannah – or at least some very cleverly costumed individuals on stilts – stroll the open plains of the Museum, inviting photographs, petting from kids, and a whole lot of awe from all ages.

Fay & Fluffy
Chen Court – Weekends
1:45-2 pm | 2:45-3 pm | 3:45-4 pm

Drag duo Fay Slift and Fluffy Soufflé, along with some puppet friends and special guests, present fun book readings done cabaret-style.
 

MARCH BREAK CAMP
Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20, 2026 | 9 am to 4 pm

In addition to daily programming, ROM’s popular March Break Camp for children ages 5 to 14 offers deeper engagement through hands-on crafts, science experiments, and creative play inspired by the Museum’s world-class collections – all under the guidance of experienced instructors. Full‑day programs include a supervised lunch and offer early drop‑off and optional extended after-hours care.

• Ages 11-14 – ROM DIY: Young makers will upcycle materials and explore creative problem‑solving through craft and design inspired by objects in the galleries.
  Dungeons & Dragons: Discover the cultures and artifacts that inspired the mysteries, creatures, and weapons from D&D and other popular role-playing games.
• Ages 8-10 – Deep Cuts: Campers venture beneath the surface and fish out the underappreciated stories from around our planet, from history's unsung heroes to haunting unexplored oceans.
• Ages 6-7 – Twist of Fate: Join us for a session filled with the stories, inventions, and discoveries that we blame on a simple twist of fat
• Age 5 – Art Express: All aboard for a creative introduction to art and culture around the world through gallery immersion and self-expression.

Registration details: Public – $420 | Members – $390 | Extended Care – $80


CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS

Sharks 
Last chance! – Runs until March 22, 2026
General admission + surcharge of $9/adult

Dive into the thrilling world of sharks through this family-friendly exhibition – organized by the American Museum of Natural History and presented by Desjardins Financial Group – that gives visitors a whole new perspective on these magnificent creatures of the sea. 

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025
Closing soon – Runs until March 29, 2026
General admission + surcharge of $9/adult

One hundred photographs from this year’s annual WPY competition organized by London’s Natural History Museum are currently on view at ROM, presenting a unique perspective into the natural world in vivid detail – from unusual species and hidden habitats to ecological impacts.

Crawford Lake: Layers in Time
Runs until September 13, 2026
Free with admission

Did you know that a small lake in Ontario is a marker of the Anthropocene? Visit Crawford Lake near Milton, Ont., through this original exhibition, which takes visitors into the history of how this unassuming body of water doubles as a record of human life on Earth.

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Admissions information: The Museum is open throughout March Break, Saturday, March 14 through Sunday, March 22, from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Last entry to special exhibitions is at 4:30 pm. 

Entry to ROM is through the Weston Entrance on Queen’s Park. Free stroller parking is available at Coat Check and in Philosopher's Gallery (Level 1), daily from 10 am to 4 pm.