It’s no secret how fabulous Ottawa’s many museums are. I’ve already documented my love for a few of them – The Museum of Nature and the Aviation and Space Museum, and I will get around to posting about all the others at some point. But as popular as all the our capital’s museums are with families, I think the “Sundays at the museum” programs are not very well known. Both the National Art Gallery and the Museum of History offer special programming on certain Sundays throughout the year, and they can be a great destination for parents and kids looking for something a little new!

Family Sundays at the National Art Gallery

First of all, the next family Sunday at the NAG is coming up ASAP, as in this Sunday January 22. These don’t come around all that often, so if you’re interested, mark it in your calendar!

On each family Sunday, kids aged 0-12 and their parents can experience the national collection through a different theme. This season they are exploring art through the worlds of engineering, storytelling, illusion and time travel.

ART-A-CADABRA is what is going on this January 22 from 10:00am-4:00pm there is a jam-packed schedule full of activities.

Some examples of what will be happening at the NAG: there is a magician, Ian Quick putting on an all ages friendly performance. There is an arts and crafts station where kids can cut and paste and create an animated flip book. For the little ones there is a songs and story station, and for the older kids there are gallery tours and games throughout the gallery, as well as screening of some films courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada.

This family Sunday is included with gallery admission, free for members.

If you can’t make it this weekend, but you’re interested, the next family Sunday at the NAG is on March 19 and the theme is TIME TRAVEL.

For more information check out National Art Gallery website

Awesome Sundays at The Museum of History

The Museum of History and the adjoining Children’s Museum are always a great destination for the family, but on the third Sunday of every month there is even more to keep the kids busy.

Featuring a different theme each time, Awesome Sundays offer exciting demonstrations, fascinating guests and creative take-home crafts.

The Awesome Sundays that I have attended have surprisingly, not been very busy. I also love that they take place down in the Grand Hall. It is a stunning setting with all of the totem poles and First Nations carving, not to mention the huge windows that let so much natural light in. It’s actually a lovely place to just sit and watch your kids take part.

Awesome Sundays are free with Museum admission.

Awesome Flags at the Children’s Museum

As I’m sure all of you know (and I did mention it above if you were paying attention) the Children’s Museum is inside the Museum of History. The Children’s Museum is also getting in on this Awesome Sunday action with AWESOME FLAGS.

Awesome Flags is taking place on Sunday, February 19
 from 10:00 am-4:00pm.

Families can celebrate the 52nd birthday of the Maple Leaf flag with a flag-based scavenger hunt, flag crafts, and a chance to hear the story of how Canada’s Maple Leaf flag came to be.

For more information on Awesome Sundays and Awesome Flags check out the Museum of History website

Awesome Sundays at the War Museum

So, I haven’t checked this one out yet, but turns out the War Museum has Awesome Sundays too! If you have a membership to the Museum of History and the Children’s Museum, it also gets you into the War Museum (and I do), so that’s pretty great.

Awesome Sundays at the War Museum take place on the last Sunday of the month.

Featuring a different theme each time, the War Museum offers exciting demonstrations, hands-on experience with experts, and fun take-home crafts.

The next Awesome Sunday is titled Awesome Music and takes place on January 29, from 10:00 am-3:00pm. Long &McQuade is bringing out it’s Instrumental Petting Zoo, where instead of seeing goats and rabbits, you can try horns, trumpets, drums, keyboards and guitars. You can also meet the Regimental Band of the Governor General’s Foot Guards and watch them perform traditional, military and popular music, including selections from the movies Harry Potter, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. There are workshops and musical crafts and is marketed as epecially enjoyable for families with children aged 4 to 10.

For more info go to War Museum website