Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum

06/23/2026

We are celebrating our 7th birthday at Canalside presented by Rich Products Corporation this weekend!

All guests who are 6 or 7 years old will receive free museum admission on June 26 and June 27 (must be redeemed in person)! All guests can enjoy reduced admission of just $7 on June 28 and June 29 thanks to KeyBank. Use code BDAY-7 if purchasing in advance!

All activities are free with the price of admission.

Friday, June 26: Open 10am-4pm | Free admission for 6 & 7 year olds
• Glitter Tattoos: 11am-1pm
• Alien Henchman Character Visit: 11am-1pm
• Brownie Bite Tasting courtesy of Enzi Cakes & Treats: 12pm until supplies last

Saturday, June 27: Open 10am-4pm | Free admission for 6 & 7 year olds
• Build & Play Jr. Workshop with Valu Home Centers: 11am-1pm | Guests can construct and decorate a butterfly house they can take home
• Face Painting by Buffalo Face Paint (brought to you by Sheridan Benefits): 12pm-2pm
• WOW Party Bubble Shows: 12:30pm & 2pm | Limited first-come, first-served seating
• Brownie Bite Tasting courtesy of Enzi Cakes & Treats: 11:30am until supplies last

Sunday, June 28: Open 11am-3pm | $7 admission for all guests
• Glitter Tattoos: 11am-1pm
• Alien Henchman Character Visit: 11am-1pm
• Brownie Bite Tasting courtesy of Enzi Cakes & Treats: 12pm until supplies last
• The Canalside Children’s Book Festival will take place along the Boardwalk: 10am-1pm

Monday, June 29: Open 10am-4pm | $7 admission for all guests
• Glitter Tattoos: 11am-1pm
• Alien Henchman Character Visit: 11am-1pm
• Brownie Bite Tasting courtesy of Enzi Cakes & Treats: 12pm until supplies last

Take 10% off museum memberships purchased in person June 26-29 during museum hours. Plus, get a free refill cartridge with the purchase of any bubble wand during the Birthday Celebration.

Enjoy sundae specials in the Low Bridge Café, including Birthday Sundaes and Rubber Duck Sundaes. All sundaes are made with Perry’s Ice Cream, the Official Ice Cream of Explore & More. If any guests have a birthday June 26-29, they can have a free Birthday Sundae on us with a purchase in the Café of $20 or more. Kids Meals will also come with a special 10-inch gold star balloon while supplies last.

06/22/2026

Due to popular demand, we’ve opened up more spots in our “Happy Holidays Around The World” day camp for 2nd & 3rd Graders August 31-September 4. Book individual days now before these spaces fill up!
 
Our camps are led by our professional educators, and we are licensed and regulated by the New York State Office of Child & Family Services. Fun, hands-on experiences will spark creativity, imagination, and exploration. Children will participate in planned academic-based science & art activities, and venture to play throughout the museum.
 
Camps fill up quickly and spaces are limited, so reserve your child’s spot today! Register at exploreandmore.org/camps! For more information, call us at 716-655-5131 ext. 3 or email [email protected].

06/22/2026

As we celebrate our museum’s 7th birthday at Canalside this week, we’re throwing a special after-hours party designed for pre-teens & beyond who have functional and developmental needs to enjoy Explore & More that’s completely FREE thanks to the support from our friends at M&T Bank. Come to our “Play Your Way” party on Sunday, June 28 from 3:30pm-5:30pm.

Guests will need to register in advance here: https://exploreandmore.org/event/play-your-way-party-june-2026/. Space is limited.

Included in the event is a special performance from WOW Party (seated is limited and first come, first served), birthday treat cups courtesy of Milk For Health, a dance party facilitated by Danceability Inc., plus fun activities and crafts in our studios.

06/19/2026

“We Couldn’t Build A Better Dad!”

Activities all weekend include:
• Lightboard table activities, Play-Doh construction, “I Love My Dad” paper plate spinner activities…& more in the Art Studio (11am-3pm)
• Mega Duplo building, Kinetic Sand structures, “I Couldn’t Build A Better Dad” toolbox activities in the Tinkering Tank (11am-3pm)

Just for Sunday, June 21: Free museum admission for all father figures (with the purchase of a youth ticket)

Museum Hours: Saturday (10am-4pm | Members at 9:30); Sunday: 11am-3pm | Members at 10:30)

06/19/2026

We are open 9-4 today (June 19, 2026). And we’ll have a calf on our loading dock from 11-1 thanks to Milk For Health!

As construction of Heritage Point resumes next door, the stretch of road in front of Explore & More between Lloyd and Hanover will be temporarily closed during your visit on July 19. The cobblestone streets on both ends of Marine Drive will NOT be accessible for parking due to the Team USA Watch Party at Canalside this afternoon. Please be mindful that some sidewalks may also be closed.

Pearl St. will be open to traffic and is the best route to take to the museum today. Guests will still be able to enter the museum from either side of the building.

Please visit BuffaloWaterfront.com for a full list of events at Canalside.

06/18/2026

Have you heard?

Mystery Dumplings *and* That Fudge Place Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, and Chocolate Peanut Butter fudge are now available in our Gift Shop‼️

The Explore & More Gift Shop featuring Perry's Ice Cream and more is open to the public during museum hours.

See you there! ☀️

06/17/2026

Our Gabby's Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days will be November 6-15! We'll have more details in the coming weeks!

We're excited to announce the return of Gabby's Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days in 2026!

ACM and DreamWorks Animation are continuing their partnership for a second year to bring imaginative, play-based learning experiences to families nationwide. This year's expanded program will reach 64 ACM member museums and introduce activities inspired by Fairylandia, the magical world featured in the latest season of Gabby's Dollhouse.

In 2025, MEOWseum Discovery Days welcomed more than 56,000 guests across 44 museums, demonstrating the power of partnerships that connect children and families with hands-on learning experiences.

Together, ACM and DreamWorks Animation are celebrating creativity, curiosity, social-emotional learning, and the joy of play in children's museums across the country.

Read the full announcement and view participating locations, here: https://childrensmuseums.org/2026/06/17/return-of-gabbys-dollhouse-meowseum-discovery-days-in-2026/

06/16/2026

Need to schedule some extra activities for your child this summer? Explore & More’s school-age day camp programs are starting soon! Book individual weekdays now beginning July 20. Each week has a different theme!

This year, we are offering separate camp groups for kiddos entering Kindergarten & 1st grade and children entering 2nd & 3rd grade.

Our programs are led by our professional educators, and we are licensed and regulated by the New York State Office of Child & Family Services. Fun, hands-on experiences will spark creativity, imagination, and exploration. Children will participate in planned academic-based science & art activities, and venture to play throughout the museum.

Camps fill up quickly and spaces are limited, so reserve your child’s spot today! Register at exploreandmore.org/camps! For more information, call us at 716-655-5131 ext. 3 or email [email protected].

06/11/2026

Take a look at the great work done to improve the crosswalks outside the museum! Thanks to Buffalo Urban Development Corporation - BUDC, The City of Buffalo and all the volunteers who helped make this possible!

06/11/2026

Slide on down to Explore & More