Great Gobbler Fest

Celebrate this abundant season with a whole new slew of events all week long here at the Children's Museum!

About the Event

Great Gobbler Fest

Sponsored by H-E-B

It's that beautiful time of the year, between Halloween and Christmas. The air is a little crisper, leaves are falling, and we gather our friends and family together to share in an abundant feast as we reflect on everything we hold dear and what it means to us. It's Thanksgiving Time! Join us this year for a cornucopia of festive activities you're sure to be thankful for.

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WHAT'S HAPPENING?

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Monday November 23rd  – Turkey Jam

Turkey DJ & Games: Celebrate Thanksgiving with music, turkey-themed games and fun line dancing with the Children's Museum turkey!

When: From 10 am to 2 pm in Kids’ Hall Alcove

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DIY Turkey Costumes: Make festive turkey costumes out of paper bags in this hands-on, creative activity.

When: All Day or until supplies last in One World

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Tuesday November 24th –Turkey Pardon

Live Turkey: Stop by and say "hello" to the live turkey that our Kids’ Committee will be pardoning for Thanksgiving!

When: From 9:30 am to 2 pm in Kids’ Hall Alcove

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DIY Turkey Costumes: Design and create your own paper bag turkey costume to wear in our Turkey Pardon Parade! Limit 25 kids per hour; kids will meet back in the Auditorium at 12:15pm to join in the parade.

When: From 9 am to noon in Brown Auditorium

Turkey Parade & Pardon: Cheer on our parade of “turkeys,” then watch our real, live turkey get a free pass from Kids' Committee during this annual event.

When: At 12:30 pm in Kids’ Hall  

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Turkey Leg Hats: Create festive headwear from paper lunch bags in this annual favorite craft!

When: All Day in One World

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Gobbler Wobbler: Design and assemble your own Thanksgiving turkey paper toy.

When: All Day in Chevron Maker Annex

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Wednesday November 25th – Pumpkin Chunkin’

Sponsored by Jason & Ginny Endecott

Pumpkin Chunkin’ Relay: Break up into teams and scramble to fill the pumpkins as fast as you can! Then watch as we drop the pumpkins from a lift to see which team gets the biggest SMASH!

Participants must be 5+ and are picked by raffle. Sign up at the tables in the Patio. 10 kids per relay; will need 6 pumpkins, chosen by raffle

When: At 11 am & 1 pm on the Patio

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Mini Pumpkin Pudding Pies: Indulge in a delicious Thanksgiving treat featuring layers of Nilla wafer, pumpkin pudding and whipped cream!

When: From 1 pm to 4 pm in Tree Top

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Pumpkin Scratch Art: “Carve” your favorite pumpkin-themed designs to reveal amazing colors!

When: All Day in One World

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Pumpkin Catapults: Build a catapult and use it to launch mini rubber pumpkins in this fun, creative challenge.

When: All Day in One World

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Classical Sing Move and Play: Explore rhythm, melody and movement through fun music games inspired by famous operas.

When: At 10:30 am in Tree Top

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Friday November 27th – Changing of the Seasons

Santa Meet & Greet: Come say hello to the big man in the red suit as he visits the Museum to greet guests along with an elf helper!

When: From 9:30 am to noon & 1 to 2:30 pm in Kids’ Hall Alcove

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Changing of the Seasons by Ensemble Theatre: Join us as the Great Gobbler passes the Holiday season over to Santa with a little help from the Ensemble Theatre!

When: At 12:30 pm in Brown Auditorium

The Snowman: More details coming soon!

When: At 2 pm in Brown Auditorium

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Saturday November 28th– Cozy Campfires

Mini Drama – Penguin Pals: Participate in a playful, interactive mini drama where families help two penguin friends solve a problem using movement, teamwork, and thoughtful discussion about kindness, fairness and listening to others.

When: At 10 am and noon in the Parent Resource Library

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Hot Chocolate Spoons Workshop: Create your own chocolate-covered hot cocoa spoon with sweet toppings, then take it home to stir into a warm, delicious cup of hot chocolate! Limit 8 participants at a time; while supplies last.

When: From 10 am to noon & 2 to 4 pm in Power Science Lab

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Animal Stuffies Workshop: Create your own cuddly animal stuffy to take home and love! Limit 12 kids at a time; while supplies last.

When: From 10 am to 4 pm in Design Studio

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Campfire Storytimes: Gather around for cozy campfire-themed stories, songs, and imaginative fun for the whole family!  

When: At 11 am & 1 pm in Brown Auditorium & Gallery of Wonder

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Light Up Lanterns: Design and decorate your own colorful lantern, then make it glow!

When: All Day in Chevron Maker Annex

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Candle Cards: Create colorful candle greeting cards to celebrate Advent, a Christian season of hope, peace, joy, and love leading up to Christmas.

When: All Day in Kaleidoscope

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Thankfulness Sandwiches: Build a paper sandwich with thankful ingredients, reflecting on the people, resources, and experiences that shape and enrich your life.

When: All Day in Kaleidoscope‍

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Sunday November 29th – Seasons of Caring

Letter Writing Workshops: Let’s make a difference and help local Houston student Emmy L. with her kindness project!  Let’s spread kindness, one letter at a time!    

When: From 9 to 11 am in Kaleidoscope

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Caring Storytimes: Enjoy stories focused on kindness and hope and the importance of caring for our communities such as Something, Someday by Amanda Gorman and Christian Robinson and I Am We by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds.

When: At 11 am and 1 pm in the Parent Resource Library

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Bee Hotels: Help improve the environment by making little hotels for bees to stay at while they are busy pollinating our natural world.  The little paper tubes mimic the plant stems where bees like to sleep.  

All Day in Chevron Maker Annex

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Friendship Bracelet Workshops: Learn how to weave a friendship bracelet that you can give to a loved one! Limit 12 per workshop. Recommended ages 6+.

When: At 11:30 am, 12:30 and 1:30 pm in Kaleidoscope

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Caring Tree: Design your own paper tree with ideas of how you can make a difference in your community.

When: From 2:30 to 5 pm in Kaleidoscope‍

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Donation Project - Lunch Bags: Decorate lunch bags with markers, stickers, jokes or encouragement which will be filled with food and delivered to hungry children across Houston. ‍
When: All Day in Design Studio

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Seed Starters: Discover hands-on ways to care for and nurture the environment.

When: From 11 am to 2 pm in Eco Station

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Canned Food Drive: Bring any unopened, nonexpired canned foods to drop off at our welcome center. Food will be donated to the Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry

When: All Day at the Welcome Center

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3D Printing Donation Project: Make some 3D printed assistive devices for people with disabilities. Printing Projects will be donated to MakeGood INC

When: All Day in Chevron Maker Annex

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Frequently Asked Questions
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Event Date
Monday, November 23, 2026
Event Date
Mon
Nov
23
-  
Sun
Nov
29
2026
Event Time
9:00 am
-
5:00 pm
9:00 am
–
5:00 pm
Ages
All Ages
Admission
General Admission
Location
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Disability Accessibility
CONSIDER WEARING A MASK
Please consider wearing a mask. Feeling sick? Come back when you feel better. Exposed to someone with COVID in the last 7 days? Please visit us another day. We remain committed to the safety of children, visitors, and our staff and follow CDC guidelines.
Thank You to Our Event Partner
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Thank You to Our Event Sponsor

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