Holiday memories for the FAM at the Fresno Art Museum
by Heather Parish
The holidays overflow with concerts, performances, and shopping chaos, but sometimes families want a more hands-on way to make memories. The Fresno Art Museum (FAM) offers a free alternative where kids can slow down, look closely, and let their imaginations take the lead. With a festival FAMily Day and a charming “Art of the Word” exhibition, FAM turns a museum visit into an easy, meaningful outing — no long lines required. It’s a reminder that amid the season’s bustle, art-filled afternoons can be just as joyful as any concert or ballet, and just as essential to family traditions.
Art of the Word in the Contemporary Gallery
Fresno Art Museum’s annual “Art of the Word” exhibition excels at treating children’s-book illustration as fine art and is perfect for families introducing youngsters to museums and galleries. This year’s installment, “The Simply Magnificent Art of Ashley Spires,” is a charmer. Curated by FAM Education Director Susan Yost Filgate, the show gathers illustrations from Spires’ “The Most Magnificent Maker’s A to Z” and presents them with the respect and breathing room usually reserved for adult-oriented work. Filgate notes she was first drawn to the “playfulness” and “charm and wit” of Spires’ imagery, and those qualities pop in FAM’s Contemporary Gallery.
The “The Most Magnificent Maker’s A to Z” is a clever vocabulary book that walks young readers through the emotional highs and lows of making something new. Our protagonist takes us through the words she uses as she tinkers, experiments, and crafts new things. Her alphabet includes buoyant, kid-friendly definitions for the creative process (“B is for BRAINSTORM,” “I is for IDEA”) alongside very honest ones (“P is for PATIENCE”). The illustrations are quirky and cheerfully chaotic, yet organized enough to hint at a larger story unfolding in the background—a mother cooking, discarded scraps underfoot, the quiet hum of a household where creativity fits naturally into daily life. By placing these illustrations on museum walls, FAM not only honors Spires’ art but also affirms that children’s creative worlds are worthy of the same attention and esteem as any adult’s.
FAMily Day at FAM
If you’re looking for an inviting way to introduce your kids to art museums, this Sunday’s (Dec. 14) FAMily Day at the Fresno Art Museum is an ideal starting point. The day is packed with activities that help young visitors feel engaged rather than overwhelmed: storytimes with Fresno County Public Library storytellers, visits with Santa, strolling carolers from the Hearts on Fire Rock and Roll Choir, an interactive African drum performance tied to the “Stone Sculpture of Zimbabwe” exhibit, and even a family-friendly California Opera presentation of “Amahl & the Night Visitors.” Throughout the museum, kids can join an Art Treasure Hunt, make their own creations in the classroom, and see artwork made by local third graders—a reminder that artists come in all sizes. With all galleries open, holiday treats available, and the Museum Store ready for browsing, FAMily Day offers a lively, low-pressure way to help children explore art, movement, music, and imagination in a space that welcomes their curiosity.
Free Admission Days
Families also have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the Fresno Art Museum throughout the holidays and into the new year, thanks to expanded access and family-friendly hours. Beginning Dec. 7 and 21 and continuing through June 2026, FAM will offer two free Sundays each month (the first and third), making it easier for parents and kids to explore the galleries without worrying about cost. On all other days, admission remains affordable: $10 for adults, $7 for youth ages 5–17, and free for children 4 and under. The museum is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with closures on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Families should also note a brief winter break in January: FAM will be closed from Jan. 12 through Feb. 6, 2026 as new exhibitions are installed. For the most current information, including any schedule changes, it’s always best to consult the museum’s website before visiting.
Header image: from “The Most Magnificent Maker’s A to Z” by Ashley Spires.
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