Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker Is Taking Over Boston Children’s Museum for a Day

Photo by Althea Wong-Achorn

Boston Public Schools are closed tomorrow in observance of Veterans’ Day, and Boston Children’s Museum is offering a fun way for kids to spend their day off.

The Boston Ballet will take over the museum for the day, bringing along its dancers, instructors, and musicians, who will host various demonstrations and hands-on activities related to the company’s upcoming holiday tradition, The Nutcracker.

Kids can learn how a ballet is put together from their peers, as students from the Boston Ballet School host open dress rehearsals. Four demonstrations will take place, scheduled for 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.

Visitors will also be able to show off their own moves, in creative movement classes hosted by Boston Ballet School’s faculty. They’ll take place at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meanwhile, Jonathan McPhee, Boston Ballet’s music director and maestro of its orchestra, will lead performances of music from The Nutcracker. These will take place at 1 and 2 p.m.

Plus, throughout the day, all parts of the museum will be brimming with activities.

On the first floor, kids can visit the Science Playground to explore the science of friction and what allows dancers to dance.

On the second floor, in the Common area, visitors will be able to try out the “instrument petting zoo” and make their own tutus, while the Art Studio will host a “Dress a Dancer” design activity and “Countdown to Kindergarten,” the museum’s model classroom, will host Nutcracker story time at 10:30 and 11 a.m.

Meanwhile, there will be plenty of photo opportunities on the second floor bridge, where families can strike a pose with Nutcracker characters.

Boston Ballet will perform The Nutcracker at the Boston Opera House / Photo by Liza Voll, courtesy of the Boston Ballet

Free with museum admission, Tuesday, November 11, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston, bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Boston Ballet will perform The Nutcracker from November 27 to December 31 at the Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston. Tickets are available at bostonballet.org, and the Mayor’s Holiday Special is offering half-price discounts.