WORCESTER, Mass. - Families from all over Massachusetts celebrated holiday-themed activities at the Ecotarium Sunday. 

What You Need To Know

  • The EcoTarium held admission on Sunday to celebrate Christmas Eve

  • Volunteers and educators from the Worcester Science Museum came together during the day to host multiple winter-themed demonstrations about animals as well as cold weather-related topics

  • The 'Animals in Winter' program allowed patrons to have an up close look at some of the museum's aquatic creatures, like frogs and turtles

  • The free event also included other activities like '"Winter Tracking" and '"Tabletop Ice Fishing"

Volunteers and educators from the Worcester Science Museum came together during the day to host multiple winter-themed demonstrations about animals as well as other cold weather-related topics.

"In our 'Secrets of the Forest' stage," said Camp Director and Museum Educator Jason Gurtman. "We have our 'Animals in Winter' program, our heat vision program and our "Snowflake Symmetry" program, along with some amazing planetarium shows in our digital planetarium."

The 'Animals in Winter' program allowed patrons to have an up close look at some of the museum's aquatic creatures, like frogs and turtles.

Some families we spoke with say it was a great opportunity to get into the holiday spirit.

"Well it's Christmas Eve," said Framingham residents Stephen & Talia Harris. "We wanted something to do. I heard from a friend of mine that this was free entry today. It's nice to get outside and try something new." 

"So we were very excited to come here," said Shrewsbury residents Pratik Prerna & Moorjani. "Because my daughter loves to come to the EcoTarium and they had a program going on and we were really excited to be apart of it right before Christmas and feel the holiday spirit."

The free event also included other activities like 'Winter Tracking' and 'Tabletop Ice Fishing.'

Some of the families say celebrating Christmas Eve at the museum will likely be their plan moving forward.

"So far so good," said Stephen and Talias Harris.  "Lots of energy, lots of great things for us to do and we can't wait to explore some more."

"I have brought her here multiple times in the summer," said Pratik & Prerna Moorjani. "Where they have bubbles and all of those things outside going on. They're different interactive things going on downstairs like space- She loves rockets when they're in the sky. So for her to see that downstairs that was nice."

The Ecotarium is closed on Christmas.

But the museum reopens Tuesday, Dec. 26.