An All–Ages Event
On a day when most everything is closed, Spertus is wide open with activities for all ages!Last year, our annual Something Else! festival was even more popular than expected, so this year we've EXPANDED THE HOURS, increased the variety of performers and activities, and doubled the dining options.
This year’s performers include Bobby Hunt (aka "Circus Boy"), Ballet Folklorico, and the high-energy dazzle of the Rope Warrior. Like last year, attendees will be welcomed by festivities throughout the building.
Join us for music and entertainment, visit our new Gray Children's Center, enjoy arts and crafts workshops, a game room, puppeteers, and much more. Treat your family to lunch at the Spertus Café, visit the Asher Library for books and a chess match, shop at the Spertus Shop, and enjoy a day of fun for everyone in a warm and welcoming Jewish environment.
$10 per family.
To minimize waiting in line, purchase your family's ticket in advance.
Call 312.322.1773 by December 10.
As is our tradition, visitors are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items for distribution to needy families through the EZRA Multi-Service Center.
Something Else! is generously sponsored in part by Dr. and Mrs. Marc Karlan.
Special thanks to Sheila and Larry Gerber for sponsoring the teen leadership initiative. Look for our teen volunteers this year!
Funding for puppet show is in memory of Helen Bleicher from her nieces Adrienne Drell, Jill Drell, Pam Drell, and Terri Schwartz.
Additional support is provided by a CityArts Program 4 Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, The Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation, Northern Trust, and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Schedule of Events
Ongoing Activities 10 am — 4 pm
Welcome Center, 1st floor
Ticket sales, coat check, stroller parking, and food-drive drop-off.
Visit the Spertus Shop for last-minute Hanukkah shopping and a chance to enter raffle drawings for great gifts!
Spertus Café, 2nd floor
Bring your hungry crew to the Spertus Café by Wolfgang Puck to purchase delicious soups, sandwiches, salads, and treats.
Rooms 313 & 314, 3rd floor
Celebrate your creativity with Hands-On Art Activities.
New Gray Children’s Center, 4th floor
Sign-up on the day-of-the-event, directly off the elevator on the 4th floor, for a half-hour time block. First-come first-served. (Admission by this reservation system only, due to capacity restrictions.)
Explore the Wall of Doors and Drawers, listen to stories and create your own in the Big Block Video Area, climb through a rope tube and tunnel under an aquarium in the search for narratives, find letters amid stars in the Skydome, and much more!
Room 414, 4th floor
Play chess and enjoy games througout the day.
Student Lounge, 7th floor
Tame growling stomachs at the Wolfgang Puck Snack Kiosk. (Cash only.)
Room 723, 7th floor
Take a break in the Quiet Zone where kids (and their favorite grown ups) can escape the activities and catch a video or read a book.
Crown Family Great Hall, 9th floor
Have a turn in the inflatable moonwalk, get your face painted, and watch a variety of spontaneous entertainment — stiltwalking, clowning, and more!
Spertus Museum, 9th floor
View over 1,500 objects from Spertus Museum's world-class collection in the Open Depot, a unique storage and display area. Take the opportunity to learn more from members of the Spertus docent team.
Experience the site-specific commission Consider, a powerful open-ended reflection on the Holocaust by artist Ranbir Kaleka.
Spertus Museum, 10th floor
See Twisted Into Recognition: Clichés of Jews and Others, a multimedia exhibition that juxtaposes historical objects, items from material culture, and contemporary art and film to explore how stereotypes are seen, perceived, and classified. (Please note: This exhibition includes adult content.)
We expect morning activities to be more crowded than those later in the day, so you may want to schedule accordingly.
10:15 to 11 am — Feinberg Theater, 2nd floor
Ballet Folklorico
Ballet Folklorico has been delighting audiences throughout North America for more than 30 years. See their performance of traditional and ceremonial dances!
10:45 to 11:30 am — Landmark Room, 10th floor
Sandi Sylver
Join storyteller, ventriloquist, and songstress Sandi Sylver as she shares her story bag full of Tall Tales, Folk Tales, World Tales, and True Stories.
11:15 to 12 noon — Feinberg Theater, 2nd floor
Rope Warrior
David Fisher's high energy jump rope performance is a thrilling display of techniques and stunts. You won't believe your eyes as he jumps from the seat of his pants, in the dark with ropes that glow, and even inside a balloon! Be inspired to try some jump-roping of your own.
11:45 am -- Landmark Room, 10th floor
Tim Touhy
Enjoy the imaginative narratives of storyteller Tim Touhy.
12 noon to 12:30 pm — Crown Family Great Hall, 9th floor
Jason Kollum
Enjoy Jason’s juggling and variety show!
12:15 to 1 pm — Feinberg Theater, 2nd floor
Ballet Folklorico
Ballet Folklorico has been delighting audiences throughout North America for more than 30 years. See their performance of traditional and ceremonial dances!
12:45 to 1:30 pm — Landmark Room, 10th floor
Maxine Handelman
Hear author and educator Maxine Handelman weave storytelling magic.
1 pm — Crown Family Great Hall, 9th floor
Caring Clowns Linda Sweig and Rosette Strubel
Enjoy some clowning around.
1 to 3 pm — Crown Family Great Hall, 9th floor
Tum Balalaika Gypsy Klezmer Band
Celebrate with the Russian, Yiddish, Gypsy, Ukranian, and Romanian Klezmer music of Tum Balalaika.
1:15 to 2 pm — Feinberg Theater, 2nd floor
Circus Boy
Bobby Hunt — aka Circus Boy — skillfully combines good-natured wit with fire-eating, juggling, and other delights for audiences young and old. Bobby has entertained around the world, including opening for the Beach Boys, Weird "Al" Yankovic, and Billy Ray Cyrus.
2:15 to 3 pm — Feinberg Theater, 2nd floor
Rope Warrior
David Fisher's high energy jump rope performance is a thrilling display of techniques and stunts.
3:15 to 4 pm — Feinberg Theater, 2nd floor
Circus Boy
Bobby Hunt — aka Circus Boy — skillfully combines good-natured wit with fire eating, juggling, trick bicycling, and other delights for audiences young and old.
return to top