Free Sundays at the Museum
Looking for a place to spend a Sunday afternoon that both the kids and the adults will enjoy? Have trouble convincing your kids to join you in a museum visit?
We are proud to open the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts for free! Enjoy a range of exciting activities like Career Corner, the Family Room, and Museum Storytime, which are kid-friendly, but also intriguing for adults alike. Take a tour of our permanent museum collection filled with local history and decorative arts from the past, or check out our seasonal changing exhibit on special topics!
Free Sundays at the Museum take place at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, 427 North New Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018 and run from 1PM-4PM every Sunday.
Free Sundays at the Museum programs are funded with support from the Jones Children Fund.
Free Sundays Activities Schedule
January 25
Story: A New Year's Reunion by Li-Qiong Yu
Craft: Paper lanterns
February 2
Story: The Football That Won by Michael Sampson
Craft: Foam fan finger, pom-poms
February 9
Story: A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
Craft: Sun catcher
February 16
Story: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Craft: Foam purse, paper plate purse
February 23
Story: Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima
Craft: Noisemakers
Free Sunday Family Programs
1-4PM: Family Room Activities
Get crafty in the Family Room with fun rotating activities relating to our current exhibit. Kids can learn about history though these hands-on crafts and activities themed after artifacts in the exhibit. Many of our activities draw inspiration from those that were practiced by Moravian children in the colonial days - some of which are still practiced today!
1-4PM: Guided Museum Tour & Scavenger Hunt
Leaves on the hour from the Museum Shop
Our tour guide will lead you through the various restored rooms and galleries of the museum, giving you stories of the past surrounding each artifact.
Learn about the museum founder, Annie Kemerer, and her personal collection that started it all.
Kid-friendly artifact scavenger hunts are available for use during tours!
1:30PM: Museum Storytime
The Museum Storytime program allows kids to spend time in the museum learning about history in a unique and engaging way. Kids can come listen to a story that is inspired by an artifact in the collection. Each week features a different story and artifact!
Once Upon a Treehouse Interactive Playroom
Children will love this kids-only special interactive room where they can be hands-on, play dress up, use their imagination, and interact with beautiful handmade dollhouses themed after Kemerer’s very own historic dollhouse collection!
1-4PM: Self-guided Exploration of Seasonal Exhibition (first floor of museum)
PURSEonality: A Stylish Handbag History open through April 30
See over 300 handbags from the private collection of Ilene Hochberg Wood!
The purses on display are only a small fraction of Ms. Wood's world-class collection, believed to be the largest in the United States
Career Corner
Taking place throughout the year, this program brings professionals into the museum to present a children’s activity that demonstrates how they use design in their current job.
Thank you to our Free Sundays Sponsors
In the News
Learn more about Free Sundays at the Museum in the news.
"Family fun that’s free — if that sounds good to you, you’ll want to head to Bethlehem’s Kemerer Museum of the Decorative Arts on Sunday afternoons...You’ll find a range of programs and activities that caters to many ages and promotes creativity and exploration." - Article by The Morning Call
Other Things You Might Like
Kemerer Museum Site Rentals
For a special occasion amidst priceless works that celebrate the decorative arts, the Kemerer is a one-of-a-kind destination sure to fascinate your discerning guests!
Able to accommodate up to 100 people, the Kemerer Museum provides a unique venue for your special event. This location is perfect for cocktail parties, family reunions, corporate dinners, birthday parties, baby showers, and so much more.
