Build Community. Spark Conversation. Inspire Change.
Community Programs
The Dennos Museum Center presents a variety of programs for all ages, seeking to build community, spark conversation, and inspire change. Check out the listings here to find out what's happening.
Tour Tuesdays
Tuesdays | 12:00 PM
Come to the museum and join an informal tour of our current exhibitions with one of our docents. Tours are free with museum admission and will begin at 12:00 PM. Please meet by the front desk a few minutes before the tour begins.
SECOND SUNDAY ART PROJECTS
Every Second Sunday of the Month | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Come to the museum and take part in a vibrant participatory artistic experience every second Sunday of the month! From printmaking to painting and weaving, each session offers a unique and creative activity.
Second Sundays are supported by the Linda O'Meara Fund for Arts Education. Second Sunday Art Projects are included with museum admission. Please pay admission when you arrive.
Solstice Silent Disco
Sunday, December 21 | 6 - 9:00 PM
$10 - $20
Join us just after sundown and celebrate the longest night of the year! Grab a pair of wireless headphones that give you the option to decide your musical vibe as you head to the dance floor or mingle in the galleries. And to top it all off, Super Nuclear will be in the house lighting it up!
Whether you’re here to groove or simply soak in the ambiance, enjoy a unique evening experience in the museum. Warm drinks and light snacks will be available to keep the solstice spirits bright. Cash bar for those 21+.
This event is open to all ages. Parental guidance is advised.
Martin Luther King Jr. Free Day
Monday, January 19 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
FREE
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with us with free admission to the museum!
2026 Winter Opening Reception
Friday, January 23 | 6:00 PM, 5:45 PM Doors
$0 - $10
Join the fun for our winter opening reception! Doors will open at 5:45PM. Enjoy an evening with light refreshments and a cash bar. Each guest will receive one drink ticket upon arrival.
Members get free admission and double discounts in the Museum Store the night of the event. Guests of members and the public are welcome to attend at the cost of admission. Please RSVP in advance. Limit of 300.
Our Winter 2026 Exhibitions
a deeper dive into Backstories
Saturday, January 24 | 2:00 PM
$0 - $10
Join artist Doug Cannell as he takes you deeper into the unusual series of artworks he calls Backstories. Cannell is a multi-disciplinary artist who uses woodworking, sculpting, graphic design, writing and photography to create installations that entice viewers to explore them, each revealing a surprising and unconventional story.
These works are engaging, but in what many have described as a “post-truth era”, they might be particularly relevant, prompting people to question their own gullibility, their willingness to accept something as the truth just because it’s presented to them in a convincing and authoritative way.
Limit of 34.
Mock Tours at The Dennos: Valentine's Edition
Saturday, February 14 | 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM Start
18+ | $20 - $25
The Dennos and Full Tilt Comedy invite you to be charmed this Valentine’s Day. Professional improvisers return as fictional docents leading you on delightfully dramatic and totally made up tours of the museum. Perfect for couples, friends, or solo adventurers, this light-hearted evening of laughter at the museum is sure to end in a love affair.
Choose from two tour times: 7:30 PM for a sweet, post-dinner date or 9:30 PM for something slightly spicier.
Your ticket includes one drink ticket and tasty Valentine’s treats.
Trilobite Treasures with Paleo Joe
Friday, February 20 | 4:00 PM
$0 - $10
PaleoJoe presents these fine Paleozoic creatures in a way that tells a story of the prehistoric life in the ancient seas. He provides a unique snapshot of life in the ancient seas from 250 to 500 million years ago. Finally he explores the life and death of these creatures once so plentiful during the Cambrian period that it was called the Age of Trilobites.
Spring Break at the Museum
March 27 - April 4, 2026
Visit the museum for a Spring Break adventure for the whole family! Kids are free this week with accompanying adults.* A new scavenger hunt will be available at the front desk. Turn it in to receive a prize!
*All children under 15 must be accompanied by at least one adult.
Slow Art Day
Saturday, April 11 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
FREE
Hit the pause button with us for Slow Art Day, a global celebration of unhurried, mindful looking. On this special day, we invite visitors of all ages to slow down, settle in, and spend meaningful time with selected artworks across the galleries.
Throughout the museum, you’ll find gentle slow-looking prompts to guide your experience, along with an art-inspired music playlist curated to deepen the atmosphere. Whether you come on your own or with friends, you can explore at your own pace—then join optional group-looking sessions led by museum staff to share discoveries and reflections.
Why slow? Most people spend less than a minute with a work of art. But when we linger—five, ten, even fifteen minutes—unexpected details, emotions, and connections emerge. Slow Art Day reminds us that you don’t need expertise to engage deeply with art; curiosity and time are enough.
Drop in any time between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to experience the galleries in a new way, reconnect with your sense of wonder, and enjoy a slower moment at the Dennos.
Earth Day Clothing Swap
Wednesday, April 22 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
FREE
Join us in celebrating Earth Day with a fun and eco-friendly clothing swap! This second annual event is a perfect opportunity to refresh your wardrobe Sustainably, connect with your community, and reduce waste. Bring gently used clothing (teens - adults, no undergarments) to donate between April 17th - 21st. Donations can be delivered to the museum during open hours. All remaining items will be taken to NMC’s clothing closets for students or to other area nonprofits.
Donations are not required for visitors to take clothing home.
This event is held in partnership with NMC Student Services, NMC Pride, Slip Vintage, and Up North Pride.
Spring Art Market
Saturday, May 9 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
FREE
We look forward to celebrating Michigan artists once again during our Spring Art Market, now in its fifth year. This one-day juried art event is held indoors in our Sculpture Court before the summer season of art fairs begins and falls on Mother’s Day weekend. We plan special programming into the day to let moms feel the love while offering a fun-filled experience for visitors of all ages.
Please visit the Museum Store’s website as the event nears for up-to-date event details and a list of participating artists at shop.dennosmuseum.org.
