Special holiday week programming features live performances, hands-on activities, and the return of ROM’s favourite ankylosaur.
TORONTO, February 27, 2024 –ROM March Break, presented by BASF Canada, will engage and inspire visitors from Saturday, March 9, to Sunday, March 17. Activities will be presented throughout the Museum and all are included with regular admission.
All March Break, guests will experience the majesty of Zuul, ROM’s world-famous ankylosaur, as the unique and impressive specimen returns to the Museum — from a triumphant tour to Japan. Visitors won’t want to miss this opportunity to come face-to-face with “The Destroyer of Shins” — a gnarly horned armoured dinosaur with a sledgehammer-like tail. Zuul is remarkable for being recognized as one of the most complete skeletons of its kind ever discovered, and is back on display only for a limited time. Zuul is included with admission.
“For families looking for something both fun and enriching to do this March Break, ROM has it all—live performances, hands-on programs, fascinating exhibitions, and the chance to chat with our curators,” says Josh Basseches, ROM Director & CEO.
Open from 10:00 am – 5:30 pm, ROM will present a host of exciting daily activities from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. The excitement begins on ROM’s main floor with diverse live performances staged at 12:00 pm, 1:15 pm and 2:30 pm. Guest will dance along with Sakurami (March 9, and 10) as they present lively Japanese Yosakoi-style dance. The high-energy Alpha Rhythm Roots (March 12, 13, 14) gets kids moving with West African culture and drum performance. Beny Esguerra & New Tradition (March 15, 16, 17) delivers interactive multidisciplinary works exploring themes of justice, environmental healing, and respect for ancestors and land treaties.
Throughout the building, guests will engage with a variety of ROM curators and experts to learn more about Museum collections and specialized research. For the younger visitors, there will be several hands-on activity tables to keep curious little kids interested.
“ROM is one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in North America and offers visitors a view of the cultures of the world through its fascinating exhibits and galleries,” says Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “This year, Ontarians will not want to miss scheduling a trip to ROM for March Break— where they can enjoy an array of fun and educational activities for the whole family.”
In ROM’s hands-on learning hub, MakerSpace, kids will discover the world of chemistry as they create gooey slime in guided sessions at the BASF Kids’ Lab: Playful Polymers Slime Workshop.
“BASF Kids’ Lab has sparked curiosity and learning to over 5,500 visitors since the program was offered at the ROM in 2023. We’re eager to see children continue to learn about STEAM while making their own slime,” says Marlena Mista, BASF Communications Manager.
ROM’s youngest visitors will also enjoy WonderWorks — where play meets learning — the permanent Museum space that invites children to ask questions, experiment and connect in an interactive and fun environment. Additional hands-on activities will pop-up in the Patrick and Barbara Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-on Biodiversity, a space featuring touchable specimens and interactive displays reflecting the Museum's deep natural history collections. Families will also love the Willner Madge Gallery, Dawn of Life, which opened December 2021, as they take an epic journey back — about 4 billion years — from the origins of life on our planet up until the appearance of dinosaurs.
ROM March Break is the ideal opportunity for guests to discover the wonders of art, culture, and nature, and leave the Museum even more curious than when they first arrived.
Special Exhibitions on during March Break
Please note, feature exhibitions Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery are surcharged.
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the world-renowned annual nature photography competition and exhibition, presenting a new set of 100 images celebrating artistic composition, technical excellence, and breathtaking views of the natural world.
- Noelle Hamlyn: Lifers displays over twenty repurposed and retailored life jackets, hand-crafted by Canadian visual artist Noelle Hamlyn, as it examines the impact of textiles and fashion on the planet's water quality.
- Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery is a thought-provoking exhibition that explores cultural and natural responses to life and death and asks big questions including: “What if I don’t want to die?”, “What will happen to my body?” and “What will happen to my ‘self’?”.
ROM Membership
To celebrate ROM's 110th anniversary this March, Members can bring a guest for free. Become a Member in March and enjoy the privileges of membership right away.
Admissions information
The Museum is open all week long, from March 9 to March 17 from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Last entry to special exhibitions Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery and Wildlife Photographer of the Year is at 4:30 pm.
