EVENT CALENDAR
Nifty Fifties Holiday
SAT, Dec 6TH
10AM-3PM
Step back in time and celebrate the charm of the 1950s at the Rice Museum’s Nifty Fifties Holiday Event, honoring the era when our historic house was built. Enjoy a day filled with retro holiday fun, hands-on activities, and nostalgic cheer.
Start your morning with an exclusive Members-Only Earthquake Science Lab from 10–11 AM. More information below.
Watch the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life at 12 PM. Limited seating for 50—RSVP early to save your spot. Enjoy our other event activities even if you skip the movie.
Get creative with holiday crafts for all ages, including ornament decorating and graham cracker house building.
Meet Mrs. Claus and enjoy free face painting.
Enter the raffle for a chance to win one of several festive gift baskets.
Come for the classic movie, stay for the crafts, and enjoy a jolly mid-century holiday experience at the museum!
Included with general admission. Free for members.
Members Only Presentation: Earthquakes — Patterns and Questions
SAT, DEC 6TH
10 – 11AM
Presenter: Dr. Roy Schiesser
Earthquakes are among the most powerful forces shaping our planet — but how do scientists understand them? In this exclusive members-only program, Dr. Roy returns to the Rice Museum to explore the patterns, mysteries, and science behind seismic activity.
The session also includes a hands-on demonstration with springs to show how different earthquake waves travel through the Earth.
Participants will learn:
What fault lines reveal about global seismic patterns
How different earthquake waves move
How early civilizations recognized earthquake behavior
How modern geologists measure and interpret seismic data
What questions still puzzle scientists today
Free for museum members. Registration encouraged.
SAVE THE DATE:
2026:
Sun, Jan 18th – Intern Celebration and Geosciences Career Day
Sat, Jan 24th – Mystery Mineral Day
Sat, Mar 7th – A Day at the Beach
Sat, Mar 14th – Sip & Stone
Sun, Mar 22nd – Garage Sale
Sat, Apr 4th – The Great Thunderegg Hunt
Sat, May 9th – The Gold Rush
Sat, May 16th – Volcano Day
Sun, Jun 21st – Space Day
Sun, Jul 12th – Mystery Mineral Day
Sat, Aug 22nd – Summer Bash
Sat, Sep 19th – Garage Sale
Sat, Sep 26th – Worldwide Day of Play (Tentative)
Sat, Oct 31st – Halloween Rock or Treat
Sun, Nov 15th – Diamonds & Diorite: A Minecraft Day
Sat, Dec 5th – Nifty Fifties Holiday Celebration