BRATTLEBORO — Children and adults, seasoned museum-goers and curious newcomers alike are invited to Free Family Day at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center on Saturday, July 20, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., attendees of all ages can view the Museum's summer exhibits with artists and docents on hand to answer questions; watch huge woodblock prints being created on the giant mobile printing press of BIG INK, and take part in a variety of hands-on art-making activities.
When it's time for a refreshing snack, visitors can pedal their own fresh-fruit smoothies into existence with one of two DIY smoothie bikes.
The Caterpillar Lab, a traveling collection of caterpillars in various stages of development, will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with friendly and knowledgeable staff ready to introduce even the most insect-phobic visitors to the wonders of these tiny creatures.
From noon to 3 p.m., the artist trio responsible for Brattleboro's Ask the River public art project will lead a sketching and painting session alongside the Connecticut River, followed by a community cyanotype-making project.
From 3 to 4 p.m., artist Angus McCullough and a local historian will offer “Unpacking the Station,” a guided history tour of the BMAC building, which will include rarely seen nooks, crannies, and vestiges of the building's history as Brattleboro's Union Station.
From 5 to 8 p.m., the galleries will stay open late, with food trucks and live music in front of the Museum, including hometown indie-pop favorites Moxie.
For more information, call 802-257-0124 or visit www.brattleboromuseum.org.