In time for its eighth birthday, the Children’s Museum of St. Croix has found a permanent home and is inviting adults to an evening of play on March 8 from 6 – 10 p.m.
After years of pop-up events at the Agriculture and Food Fair, Mango Melee, and Christmas Spoken Here, the Children’s Museum is settling in to the four-acre Estate Carlton location. The fundraising event encourages participants to wear “casual attire to connect to your inner child.”
“It’s the first event in our new home and we want to show what it looks like and its potential,” Ellie Hirsh, Children’s Museum spokesperson, said. “We want people to experience it as a child would, so it’s a casual event.”
Activities for adults will include big legos to make cars and trucks and then race down a track, and magnetic wall ramps to roll balls while trying to stay on track. There’s also a Rigamajig, a large-scale building kit to put together machines with gears, and an aquarium to explore reef life.
There will also be art projects – bubbles and clay to entertain parents while they watch their phones to see bids on auction items.
Adults can register for the auction when they purchase tickets, even if they don’t attend the event. Items for bidding include Buck Island and sailing trips from Caribbean Sea Adventures, the World Ocean School, and Big Beards Adventure Tours. There is a glass plate made and signed by the late Jan Mitchell and a Jane Akin painting. Jewelry up for bid includes a gold hook ring from Sonia’s and an IB Design bracelet from the new collection. There will be much more as items are being donated every day. The auction ends at 9 p.m.
“They can see what they like and get enthusiastic about the auction like we are,” Hirsh said.
For those who want to financially support the Children’s Museum, there are many ways to make a range of donations from a wish list for larger items. Supporters can pay the Museum’s rent in honor of their birthday or support pop-up events (which will continue Hirsh said).
The museum is run by volunteers and one part-time social media and marketing expert who is paid. They will continue to write grants to hire more staff, extend hours, and save toward the ultimate goal of owning the property.
Tickets are available at https://www.childrensmuseumstx.org/ for $125 each and can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
