Spooky Season
A little spooky. A lot of fun.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Celebrate spooky season with a day of creativity, discovery, and just the right amount of fright! From playful Halloween-inspired activities in Mariposa Mornings to a hands-on creative project in Community Creates, Spooky Season offers two ways for families to make, explore, and spend time together at OMAH.
$12 general admission | $10 OMAH Family Members
Includes admission for two adults and up to four children, with access to both Mariposa Mornings and Community Creates, all activity materials, and museum admission for the day.
Come for one or make a day of it!
Ready to join the fun?
Make a season of it! Get all four Family Discovery Days for $40 per family or $35 for OMAH members and save compared with booking individually.
Mariposa Mornings
9 AM – 11 AM
For little ones and their grown-ups
Monster Splats
Splat, blow, squish, and create! Layer colourful washable paint, make a satisfying splat, then use air to send the colours in unexpected directions. Add eyes and silly details to transform your creation into a one-of-a-kind monster puppet.
Pumpkin Decoupage
Give a pumpkin a colourful makeover! Tear, layer, and stick tissue paper and other decorative materials to create a one-of-a-kind decoupage pumpkin to take home. No carving required—just lots of colour, texture, and creativity.
Potion Sensory Play
Visit the spooky sensory laboratory! Scoop, squish, pour, stir, and experiment with slime, monster guts, beakers, and other delightfully strange materials while mixing up some seriously silly potions.
Haunted Mural
Help us create a not-too-spooky haunted masterpiece! Add your own ghosts, creatures, colours, and creepy-cute details to our collaborative mural and watch the haunted scene come to life as families create together throughout the morning.
Storytime
Gather together for a cozy storytime featuring a spooky-but-not-too-spooky seasonal picture book. Settle in for a little Halloween magic, a few giggles, and a quiet moment of reading and imagination together.
Community Creates
12 PM – 4 PM
For all ages and abilities
Terrorariums
Create a tiny spooky world of your own! Build and decorate a miniature Halloween scene, then fill it with delightfully eerie little treasures like pumpkins, potion bottles, witches’ brooms, and other spooky surprises.
Arrange, layer, and experiment until your Terrorarium is perfectly peculiar—then take your miniature creation home to enjoy all spooky season long.
Drop in anytime from 12–4 pm. All materials provided.
What is Community Creates?
Community Creates is a drop-in art experience designed for makers of all ages and abilities. Come together, get creative, and enjoy making something meaningful as a family, with friends, or on your own. No art experience needed!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register in advance?
Advanced registration is encouraged and helps us make sure we have plenty of materials ready for everyone. Drop-ins are also welcome, space permitting, so if your plans come together at the last minute, come see us!
What does the registration fee include?
The registration fee includes admission for two adults and up to four children, with access to both Mariposa Mornings and Community Creates, all activity materials, and museum admission for the day.
Can we attend both Mariposa Mornings and Community Creates?
Absolutely! Come for one or make a day of it. Mariposa Mornings runs from 9–11 am, followed by Community Creates from 12–4 pm, giving families two different ways to create, explore, and connect at OMAH.
Your Family Discovery Day visit also gives you time to explore the museum between programs.
What ages are the programs for?
Mariposa Mornings is designed especially for young children and their grown-ups, with sensory play, simple art activities, stories, and opportunities to explore at their own pace.
Community Creates is for everyone—children, teens, adults, grandparents, friends, and families of all kinds. Projects are designed to be approachable for different ages and abilities, and no art experience is needed.
Do adults need to stay with their children?
Yes. Family Discovery Days are designed as shared family experiences, and children must remain with a supervising adult while participating.
Grown-ups are encouraged to join in, create alongside their children, and have some fun too!
What should we wear or bring?
Come as you are! We provide the materials you’ll need for the day’s activities.
We do recommend wearing clothes that can handle a little creative mess, especially during Mariposa Mornings. Washable materials are used whenever possible, but art has a way of travelling!
Is there a quieter space available if we need a break?
Yes. The Franklin Carmichael Gallery on the second floor tends to offer a quieter environment if your family needs a break from the activity.
From 9–11 am, the space can serve as a quieter area for Mariposa Mornings families. After 11 am, the gallery is open to museum visitors, but families are still welcome to use it as a quieter place to regroup.
Is Family Discovery Day accessible?
We want Family Discovery Days to feel welcoming and approachable for as many families as possible. OMAH has elevator access between floors, and activities are designed with flexibility in mind so participants can engage in ways that work for them.
If your family has a specific accessibility need or you’d like to know more before your visit, please contact us, we’re happy to help you plan your day.
