Daily News

Families Invited to Experience ‘Haunting of the Springfield Museums’

SPRINGFIELD — On Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Springfield Museums will present a full day of Halloween-themed programming titled “The Haunting of the Springfield Museums,” featuring a combination of fun and spooky activities for a variety of ages, free with museum admission.

The day will feature a presentation at 3 p.m. by Agawam Paranormal, a locally based investigative team that has explored various spots around the region for signs of paranormal activity. The group has been investigating the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum over the past few weeks, and will reveal their findings and answer questions about their process. The presentation will take place in the Davis Auditorium in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, and is recommended for ages 12 and up.

Other highlights of the event will include a costume parade, with attendees encouraged to don their best costume and march to music by the Expandable Brass Band starting at 1 p.m. (meet next to the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden). The day will also feature performers from Ten31 Productions as they bring works of art to life (11 a.m. to 3 p.m., galleries of the GWV Smith Art Museum and the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts). Visitors can also view wacky, decorated trunks and get treats from various community partners during Trunk or Treat on the Quadrangle from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., and meet some of the creepy creatures that call the Springfield Science Museum home (11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Solutia Live Animal Center, Science Museum).

Rounding out the day will be Halloween-themed art projects in the Art Discovery Center of the GWV Smith Art Museum (noon to 4 p.m.) and gallery science demonstrations with the resident Mad Scientist at the Science Museum (11 a.m. to 2 p.m). The Seymour Planetarium will also present shows at 11:15 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. (extra fee for non-members).

“The Haunting of the Springfield Museums” is part of the Museums’ Family Fun series, which is supported by the TD Charitable Foundation. MassMutual is the 2016 season supporter of the Springfield Museums. Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students, $9.50 for children ages 3-17, and free for children under 3 and museum members, and includes admission to all four museums. General admission is free for Springfield residents with proof of address.