November at CMOM celebrates a variety of cultural holidays, including Diwali and Dia de los Muertos, plus Election Day, the meaning of Thanksgiving, and more.

Schedule:

Harvesting Happiness: A Celebration Across Cultures
Explore a tapestry of traditions that celebrate the bountiful harvest, respect for nature and animals, and time together as a family!
Friday – Saturday, November 1 – 30 | Museum-wide

Diwali, A Festival of Lights
Experience rich Indian culture on a journey through different parts of India to experience art and culture while celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights. Presented in partnership with The Culture Tree.
Friday, November 1

Diwali Diya Clay Lamps
Diyas are glittering lamps, believed to bring purity, goodness, good luck, and power. Learn about the significance of Diwali by creating a dazzling Diya lamp out of clay and watch it glow with a tea light!
Friday, November 1 | 10:30am – 12:30pm & 3pm – 4:30pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Rangoli Sand Art
During Diwali, families create Rangolis—colored-sand works of art—on living room floors and courtyards. Explore the culture and design your very own Diwali-inspired sand art to celebrate!
Friday, November 1 | 11:15am – 12:30pm & 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Performance: Ramlila (Diwali Puppet Show)
An interactive show telling the story of Prince Rama and the origin story of Diwali. Stick around after the show for a puppet-making workshop inspired by the story!
Friday, November 1 | 2pm – 2:20pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Diya Dance: Performance & Movement Workshop
Experience the dances of Diwali with a look at Bharatnatyam and Bollywood dance moves, followed by a fun-filled dance workshop!
Friday, November 1 | 2:30pm – 3pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Interactive Storytime: Diwali in my New Home by Shachi Kaushik
Priya loves being with family and friends to watch fireworks and celebrate Diwali, but this year Priya and her parents are living in the United States, and no one seems to know about the holiday. Priya misses the traditions in India, but as she strings lights outside and creates rangoli art, she introduces the festival of lights to her neighbors. Even though the celebration is different this year, it’s still Diwali.
Friday, November 1 | 10:30am & 4pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 – 8 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

CMOM’s Día de Muertos Celebration
Celebrate Día de Muertos at CMOM! Create an Altar de Memorias art installation, make flower crowns, sculpt sugar skulls inspired by Posada, and share memories of loved ones!
Saturday, November 2 | Museum-wide

Jardín de Memorias: Altar Instalación
Adorned with crafted monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and greenery shrubs, add to CMOM's growing installation by creating paper cempasúchiles (marigolds)! Honor this ancestral tradition while learning about its cultural importance!
Saturday, November 2 | 10:15am – 12pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

José Guadalupe Posada: Sugar Skulls
Mexican illustrator José Guadalupe Posada immortalized the iconic Día de Muertos skeleton character La Catrina in his most famous woodblock print. Draw inspiration from the late artist to sculpt sugar skulls!
Saturday, November 2 | 10am – 11am & 12pm – 1pm | Sign-up | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor| Makerspace

Flower Crowns
Flowers adorn altars and crown heads during Día de Muertos. Create flower crowns inspired by this tradition for your own cabeza!
Saturday, November 2 | 11:15am – 12:30pm & 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Cara Calaca: Sugar Skull Face Painting
Celebrate Día de Muertos with a sugar skull face painting activity and learn about the cultural significance of each color used on your face!
Saturday, November 2 | 1:45pm – 2:30pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Performance: Grupo Tolteca Chichimeca
Grupo Tolteca Chichimeca presents an interactive performance and movement workshop in honor of CMOM‘s Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) cultural celebration! Founded with the intention to preserve and maintain Mesoamerican traditions, Grupo Tolteca Chichimeca derives its name from Tolteca and Chichimeca cultures, along with Conchero traditions.
Saturday, November 2 | 2pm – 2:30pm & 3pm – 3:30pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Interactive Storytime: The Day of the Dead /El Día de los Muertos by Bob Barner
A lyrical story time about two children as they celebrate their ancestors through offerings and festivities!
Saturday, November 2 | 10:30am & 4pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 5 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Election Day
Tuesday, November 5

Badge of Honor: Celebrating Women’s Right to Vote
Celebrate over 100 years of women’s right to vote and explore the history behind the pioneering women who made voting possible! Draw inspiration from CMOM's exhibit, Right to Vote, to create a button badge that speaks out for women and their right to vote.
Tuesday, November 5 | 10:30am – 4:15pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Mural Wall: Red, White, & Blue
Celebrate the colors red, white, and blue and make different shades and colors when you mix them on PlayWorks™ Mural Wall!
Tuesday, November 5 | 1:45pm – 2:30pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks 

Cast Your Vote!
It’s never too early to practice voting! Cast votes for your favorite ice cream flavors and make an ice cream cone sculpture using cloud dough!
Tuesday, November 5 | 11:15am – 12:30pm & 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks 

Interactive Storytime: This Little Voter (Little Bee Books) by Ann Bonnie
Cast your ballots and celebrate voting in this election day-themed twist on the classic nursery rhyme “This Little Piggy”!
Tuesday, November 5 | 10:30am & 4pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Wonder Wellness Week
Harvest wellness from within and promote positive self-esteem and the importance of sleep at CMOM! Make a pillow pal to cuddle as you recharge and paint a positive affirmation mirror or create a lullaby with Carnegie Hall’s The Lullaby Project!
Sunday, November 3 and Wednesday – Sunday, November 6 – 10

Collaborative Sensory Wall!
Explore tactile, visual, and auditory input to discover your sensory preferences on an upcycled sensory wall!
Sunday, November 3 and Wednesday – Friday, November 6 – 8 | 10:30am – 4:15pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Blooming with Confidence Sensory Science
A sensory activity exploring liquid flow through narrow spaces (capillary action) with magic blooming paper flowers! Watch as water is absorbed by the paper, causing the petals to open up— a fascinating scientific phenomenon!
Sunday, November 3 | 11:15am – 12:30pm & 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Wednesday – Friday, November 6 – 8 | 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project
Parents and caregivers, work with the Lullaby Project’s professional artists to write and sing an original collective lullaby for your babies and toddlers!
Saturday, November 9 | 11am – 12pm | Sign-up | Ages 3 & younger (Parent Caregiver and siblings welcome) | 3rd Floor | Discovery Classroom

Pillow Pals
Learn why rest is so important to mental and physical health and create your own pillow pal for your next nap, or a mini one for your stuffed animal!
Saturday & Sunday, November 9 – 10 | 10:30am – 4:15pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Sensory Starry Night Bottles
Add a sensory bottle that reflects the nighttime sky to your nighttime routine! Inspired by the colors and patterns of Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night, your bottle will shimmer, sparkle, and swirl.
Saturday & Sunday, November 9 – 10 | 11:15am – 12:30pm & 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Storytime: Marvelous Me by Lisa Bullard
Meet Alex, a one-of-a-kind individual with a contagious laugh, warm hugs, and a fascinating perspective on the world. Just like everyone else, Alex has both similarities and differences with others!
Wednesday – Friday, November 6 – 9 | 10:30am & 4pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 4| 3rd Floor | PlayWorks 

Interactive Storytime: Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue
A delightful tale about an imaginative young girl who doesn’t want to go to sleep and the equally imaginative parents who adore her!
Saturday & Sunday, November 9 – 10 | 10:30am & 4pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 4 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks 

Veterans Day
Monday, November 11

Ribbons and Pins for Veterans Day
Yellow is commonly seen as a symbol of hope and support for our troops. Explore a variety of yellow mixed-media materials and textures to create a wearable adornment in honor of Veterans Day!
Monday, November 11 | 10:30am – 4:15pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Veterans Day Pop-up Cards
Celebrate Veterans Day by creating a special card to show your support for our troops!
Monday, November 11 | 11:15am – 12:30pm & 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks 

Celebrating Indigenous Heritage Month
Discover the beauty and depth of Indigenous brilliance and celebrate artists who blend contemporary aesthetics with imagery and techniques rooted in tradition.
Tuesday – Sunday, November 12 – 17 and Tuesday – Sunday, November 19 – 24

Mary Anne Barkhouse-inspired Wearable Art
Mary Anne Barkhouse is an artist with Kwakiutl heritage who creates jewelry and sculptures. Create your own metallic animal pendant or pin using foil, yarn, and model magic and learn about the significance of animals in Barkhouse’s work.
Tuesday – Friday, November 12 – 15 | 10:30am – 4:15pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Puppets & Stories
The story of Thunderbird is important to many Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest, including the Kwakiutl people. Learn about the strength and beauty of the animals in these stories while creating puppets and making them come alive in CMOM’s puppet theatre!
Tuesday – Friday, November 12 – 15 | 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Weaving Wonders with Artist Korina Emmerich
One of the most cherished traditions of many Indigenous communities is weaving. Learn basic weaving skills and create a collaborative contemporary art installation with hanging artworks crafted alongside Brooklyn-based Puyallup artist and designer Korina Emmerich.
Saturday, November 16 | 10:30am – 11:15am & 11:30am – 12:15pm | Sign-up | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Weaving Community Installation
Learn about different weaving techniques as you construct your own mini masterpiece and add it to a community installation!
Saturday, November 16 | 1pm – 4:15pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace
Sunday, November 17 | 10:30am – 4:15pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Shaun Peterson Inspired Tessellation
Shaun Peterson is a Coast Salish artist from the Puyallup Tribe who works in wood, glass, metal, and digital media, often with repeating motifs and patterns. Create your own tessellation “stained-glass” using colored cellophane and other mixed-media materials!
Saturday & Sunday, November 16 – 17 | 11:15am – 12:45pm & 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Sign-up | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Oopik Owl Inspired Toy
The Oopik is a small souvenir owl originally created by Jeannie Snowball and reimagined (and made sillier) by contemporary artists such as Jade Nasogaluak. Create your own plush creature, inspired by the work of Inuit artists and your own imagination!
Tuesday – Sunday, November 12 – 17 | 10:30am – 4:15pm | Drop-in | Ages 5 & up | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Kenojuak Ashevak Inspired Animal Stamping
Learn about arctic animals as we make artworks using animal stamps and bold colors inspired by the work of trailblazing Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak!
Tuesday – Friday, November 19 – 22 | 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Interactive Story Time: My Arctic 123 by Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak
Explore Michael Kusugak’s world of animals and adventure in the Arctic Circle. On each two-page spread, discover counting and creatures and learn who’s predator and who’s prey.
Tuesday – Friday, November 19 – 22 | 10:30am & 4pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Jeffrey Gibson Inspired Geometric Prints
Create a mixed-media print inspired by the intricate designs of Choctaw/Cherokee artist Jeffrey Gibson, whose contemporary work spans prints and paintings with expansive color, beadwork, and large-scale sculptures.
Saturday & Sunday, November 23 – 24 | 10:30am – 4:15pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

Kay Walking Stick Inspired Abstract Landscapes
Create a watercolor landscape inspired by the work of Cherokee artist Kay Walking Stick, whose work mixes American landscapes with patterns and symbols based on Southwest Indigenous Tribes’ rugs, pottery, and other mediums.
Saturday & Sunday, November 23 – 24 | 11:15am – 12:30pm & 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | All ages | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Harvest Art Bash: A Cornucopia of Creativity
JA fun-filled extravaganza filled with pretend food, family, and fantastic creations! Tuesday & Wednesday, November 26 – 27 and Friday & Saturday, November 29 – 30

Art Installation: Gift of Gratitude Collaborative Runner
Let your gratitude soar! Help create a collaborative table runner using fabric, markers, letters and shapes. Write about what you’re grateful for this holiday season or create your own cloth collage!
Tuesday & Wednesday, November 26 – 27 | 10:30am – 4:15pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Inside Art

Pinecone Sculptures
Create a fall critter out of pinecones, twigs, leaves, and other fun natural materials!
Friday & Saturday, November 29 – 30 | 10:30am – 4:15pm | Drop-in | All ages | 1st Floor | Makerspace

3D Cornucopia Collages
Create your own cornucopia collage and fill it with paper flowers, pretend leaves, and other mixed-media materials to show all the things you are thankful for!
Tuesday & Wednesday, November 26 – 27 | 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks
Friday & Saturday, November 29 – 30 | 2:45pm – 3:45pm | Drop-in | Ages 4 & younger | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks

Performance: Spellbound Theatre’s Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Catbear, a lost toy, experiences all the sights and sounds of the boroughs as they travel through the subways of New York! A heartwarming show about gratitude, exploration, and the joys of returning home to family. After the show, create your own puppet friend.
Friday & Saturday, November 29 – 30 | 11:30am & 12:30pm | Drop-in | Ages 2 – 5 | 3rd Floor | PlayWorks