Winter break tends to slow down once the holidays pass, and the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Center, Kalamazoo, MI, is using that window to give families something to do together. Throughout the break, the museum is hosting Winter Break Family Fun Days, a series of hands-on activities and programs aimed at kids and adults alike. A Winter Break Family Fun Day ticket includes access to the Air Zoo’s permanent exhibits, indoor amusement rides, and full-motion flight simulators. Parking remains free, which makes it easier for families to spend a few hours without planning a full day around it.
Visitors can also spend time inside the Hall of Heroes, the Air Zoo’s newest traveling exhibit. The exhibit looks at well-known heroes and the science behind their abilities, using large displays and interactive elements. Guests can try activities that focus on problem-solving, experimentation, and creativity rather than passive viewing. The Air Zoo’s Family Fun Days will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The events will feature unique themes and hands-on activities, while supplies last.
On December 22, you can compare rocks from Earth and beyond, explore how astronauts eat in space through ideas inspired by NASA’s Space Food Research team, and experiment by splitting water into propellants and oxygen. December 23 shifts towards creativity and engineering. Participants will be encouraged to take on structural challenges, use simple tools, and help create a kid-sized cardboard community. On December 29, Families can mix, bubble, and fizz their way through interactive stations by assembling atoms, creating slime, painting with pH, and separating colorful solutions. Lastly, on December 30, the focus is on environmental science. Visitors will be invited to explore how energy moves through natural systems, and how people and animals affect the planet. There will also be activities, including turbine blades, experimenting with a watershed model, and learning about how you can leave a positive impact on the environment.
Sponsorers for the Air Zoo’s 2025 Winter Break Family Fun Days are Consumers Energy and Charles River Laboratories. Additionally, if you want to celebrate New Year’s early, the museum will organize a Countdown to Noon celebration on December 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information and to support the Air Zoo, visit airzoo.org/family-fun-days.
