Performance Location: Cuffe Park (weather permitting)
Rain Location: Jacobs Family Gallery
An evening of creativity, music, and family fun awaits at the New Bedford Whaling Museum! During AHA! Night: Kids Rule!, families are invited to explore the Museum, create art, and enjoy live performances by New England’s beloved Toe Jam Puppet Band.
Guests may enjoy free Museum admission from 4:00 to 5:00 PM, with limited gallery access continuing through 7:00 PM, including access to the exhibition “Look pleasant, please”: Early Portrait Photography in New Bedford in the Wattles Gallery.
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Free AHA! Night Museum Access
4:00–5:00 PM
Enjoy free admission to the Museum galleries as part of AHA! Night. Embark on a scavenger hunt to find the whales, climb aboard the Lagoda, the Museum’s half-scale model of a whaleship, or explore galleries filled with art, artifacts, and stories from New Bedford’s maritime past.
5:00–7:00 PM
Limited gallery access remains available during the evening, including continued access to “Look pleasant, please”: Early Portrait Photography in New Bedford in the Wattles Gallery through 7:00 PM.
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Featured Ticketed Program
Cyanotype Sunprint Workshop with Marina Dawn Wells, PhD
4:30–5:45 PM
Advance registration required – click here to register now
Join Marina Dawn Wells, PhD, curator of “Look pleasant, please”: Early Portrait Photography in New Bedford, for a hands-on cyanotype (sunprint) photography workshop inspired by historic photographic processes and the exhibition’s exploration of representation and image-making.
Participants will create their own blue-and-white sunprints using arranged objects and materials while learning about one of photography’s earliest techniques. The workshop includes curator-led access to the exhibition and opportunities for conversation and questions.
Check-in: 4:30 PM at the Admissions Desk
Workshop begins promptly: 4:45 PM in Cuffe Park
All materials will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring small objects—such as leaves, flowers, keepsakes, or trinkets—to incorporate into their designs.
Workshop Tickets:
Museum Members: $12.50
Non-members: $25
Capacity is limited. Advance registration is required.
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The Toe Jam Variety Show
Featuring The Toe Jam Puppet Band
Beloved throughout New England, The Toe Jam Puppet Band combines music, comedy, puppetry, and audience participation in performances that delight children and adults alike.
“The Fun Family Band for New England Kids … and their parents, too!”
Performance Times
5:45 PM — First Performance
6:30 PM — Second Performance
Both performances are free of charge as part of AHA! Night at the Museum.
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About AHA! Night: Kids Rule!
AHA! (Art, History & Architecture) New Bedford is the city’s monthly celebration of arts and culture. July’s theme, Kids Rule!, highlights family-centered programming and creative experiences throughout downtown New Bedford.
