Design a Summer
July 2 – August 30, 2026
ADMISSION:
$14 Adults
$13 Seniors (62+)
$8 Students
Kids 5 & under are FREE
WheatonArts is open Thursdays through Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s free to shop & stroll our Museum Stores and Grounds during our visiting hours.
Glass Studio
July 4th: Historical Object Demonstrations
Watch Historical Object Demonstrations in the WheatonArts Glass Studio highlighting the 250th anniversary of America.
The Glass Studio will also be coordinating with the Museum of American Glass for a Historical Glass Demonstration.
Design-A Series
Let your imagination fly! Our Glass Studio Team will sculpt select designs out of molten glass. Visit the Glass Studio on Thursdays at 1 p.m. in July & August for a chance to watch your vision come to life! Drawing stations will be located throughout the campus, including the Glass Studio.
Design-A themes will rotate throughout July & August
– On the First & Fifth Thursday of the month: Design-A-Favorite Animal
– On the Second Thursday of the month: Design-A-Monster
– Third Thursday of the month: Design-A-Junk Food
– Fourth Thursday of the month: Design-A-Vessel
Science Sundays
Every Sunday this July and August, join us at Wheaton Arts for Science Sundays. Staff Artist Jeremy Hayes will be demonstrating Plasma and Neon processes for the public between 2 and 4pm in the Glass Studio. Bring an inquisitive mind so that we can explore and learn together! The program schedule is subject to change. Please check back for updates.
Museum of American Glass
Visit the Museum of American Glass to see the current exhibitions Ghost Optics, Portals & Passages, and Transformations: The Wasserstein Collection of Contemporary Glass.
Join us for a Daily Guided Tour of Museum Highlights. Tours are 45 minutes in length and take place at 2 p.m. Special Guided Tours & Programs are available for Summer Camps and Groups.
Self-Guided Activities
– Faces and Feelings: Who’s Looking at You? Explore the Museum to find people depicted in glass. Look for all the unique faces and expressions. Recognize anyone?
– America 250: Discover 250 years of American history captured in glass. Can you find symbols of patriotism—eagles, flags, presidents, and more?
Down Jersey Folklife Center
Visit the Down Jersey Folklife Center to see the current exhibition, Communities and Cultures of Down Jersey. The exhibition offers a cross-cultural exploration of folk and traditional arts as associated with their ethnic, occupational, and regional versions.
The Down Jersey Folklife Center will also be a Design-A Drawing Station, where visitors can create their submissions as inspired by the “Communities and Cultures of Down Jersey” exhibit.
Pottery Studio
Stop by the Pottery Studio to see wet clay sculpted into beautiful and functional works of art throughout the day. A pottery-themed coloring sheet will be available throughout July & August!
July – Design a Birdbath
Let your creativity soar by submitting a ceramic birdbath design for our ceramic artists to make! At the end of the month, a few designs will be picked to be reproduced in clay. Winners will receive the final piece after it’s glazed and kiln fired around 2-3 weeks later.
August – Jack’O’Lantern Design Contest
Try your hand at designing a ceramic Jack’o’lantern for our ceramic artists to make! At the end of the month, the artists will pick a few designs to reproduce in clay. Winners will receive the final piece after it’s glazed and fired in the kiln, about 2-3 weeks later.
Educational & Family Programs
Plein Air Studio: Open-Air Art for All Ages
Available Thursdays and Fridays during our visiting hours.
All ages are welcome to drop-in and participate in intergenerational art-making at the Education Studio entrance. Tabletop easels and drawing materials are available to encourage visitors to engage with the landscape and campus through observational drawing.
Thursday Family Art Studio: Guided Intergenerational Workshops
Participate in Guided Intergenerational Workshops at our Thursday Family Art Studio every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rotating projects include Cardboard Loom Bracelets, Stampmaking, Painted Wood, Paper Beads, Air-Dry Clay, and Captured Drawing Pendants.
Gallery Glass
Visit the Gallery of Fine Craft to create a fused glass magnet, pendant, or suncatcher using small pre-cut pieces of glass, which will be fired for you.
Campus Wide Scavenger Hunt
Participate in a campus-wide Summer scavenger hunt featuring various locations throughout the WheatonArts campus. Once complete, show your Scavenger Hunt sheet to the Gallery of Fine Craft to receive a small prize.
Play Grove
Located on the green between the WheatonArts Museum Stores & the Museum of American Glass.
Visit the new Summer-exclusive Play Grove, a colorful space that welcomes families and children to play together! The Grove is decorated with kite displays to add motion and color. Colorful Glass Bottles have been repurposed into chimes for a gentle sound and additional picnic tables have been added.
Chalk Games
Play a variety of Chalk Games including Tic-Tac-Throw, Hopscotch, Colored Circles, and Snail’s Pace. Each game is painted on the concrete with printed instructions, edited for immediate play.
Music Wall – Music, Song, and Movement
Repurposed muffin tins, grates, kitchen pieces, and wooden spoons are mounted on a fence panel to create sound. There is a basket with a variety of simple musical instruments is nearby with ribbon twirlers and hoops are nearby for dance.
The Stage – Imaginative Play
Props for expressive entrances, exits, and performances are stored in a stand with baskets to choose from, such as feather boas, oversized sunglasses, and scarf capes. A stage curtain creates an atmosphere.
Strategic and Physical Play
– Classic board games like checkers, tic-tac-toe, and Candyland are available on small tables.
– A two-piece cornhole set up for adults, and a two-piece child-sized – just for fun – no tournament regulations.
– Gigantic bubble fun.
The program schedule is subject to change. Please check back for updates.
