Kaleideum sets dates for grand opening

The children’s education organization Kaleideum is getting ready to open its new building in downtown Winston-Salem. 

The reimagined new space for Kaleideum is the result of nine years of planning, following a merger between the former SciWorks Museum and The Children’s Museum. Efforts were temporarily delayed by the pandemic.

Officials have announced that the five-story, 70,000-square-foot facility will have a grand opening on Saturday, February 17.

There will be a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Thursday, February 15, along with several special events for invited guests.

Leigh Ann Woodruff, Kaleideum’s vice president of communications and operations, says the museum’s mission is to inspire wonder and curiosity in children and communities through interactive play and discovery. She compares the concept to the turning of a kaleidoscope, which can be a work of art but is also an instrument of play.

"It's very exciting for us, that the community is seeing how we have thought about Kaleideum and kaleidoscopic thinking, changing patterns and being able to shift your perspective, and learn new things alongside people who may be different from you or have different ideas than you," says Woodruff. 

Tickets for Kaleideum’s grand opening event are now on sale online, and there will be day-of discount pricing for those who qualify at the museum’s welcome desk.