South Carolina Celebrates Children’s Museum Week April 6–11

Gov. Henry McMaster has officially proclaimed April 6–11, 2026 as Children’s Museum Week, recognizing the vital role children’s museums play in fostering curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.

 Led by the South Carolina Alliance of Children’s Museums (SCACM), this annual celebration shines a spotlight on the state’s children’s museums and their shared mission to provide meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for families across South Carolina.

“South Carolina’s Children’s Museums spark our state’s youngest citizens’ imagination and creativity, igniting curiosity and wonder using hands-on engagement and play as a springboard for learning,” McMaster said in the official proclamation.

The SCACM is a collaborative partnership among the state’s children’s museums, working together to maximize statewide impact and expand access to informal, play-based education.

Members include The Children’s Museum of the Upstate in Greenville and Spartanburg, EdVenture Children's Museum in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry in Charleston, and Main Street Children’s Museum in Rock Hill.

Throughout the week, each museum will host special programs and activities designed to engage children and families while highlighting the importance of learning through play.

While each institution offers unique exhibits and experiences, they are united by a shared commitment to supporting children’s development and strengthening communities across the state.

“Children’s museums are uniquely positioned to inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence in young learners,” said Lauren Luneckas, CEO of The Children’s Museum of the Upstate. “South Carolina is stronger because we have a network of institutions dedicated to that mission. The South Carolina Alliance of Children’s Museums allows us to collaborate, share expertise, and collectively advocate for the importance of play-based learning for families across our state.”

Lisa Van Deman, CEO of Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, emphasized the broader community impact of children’s museums:

“Children’s museums play a vital role in the fabric of a community—they’re unique spaces where every child can explore, imagine, and discover their own potential. At their best, they remove barriers to learning by making education joyful, accessible, and self-directed. Through hands-on experiences and shared family engagement that The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and our South Carolina Alliance of Children’s Museum colleagues provide, we’re not only sparking curiosity—we’re helping to create more equitable opportunities for children to grow in confidence, creativity, and connection. Through our shared expertise and advocacy, we’re investing in a stronger, more inclusive future for all.”

 “Children’s Museum Week allows Culture & Heritage Museums, Main Street Children’s Museum’s parent organization, the opportunity to celebrate our site that is devoted specifically to our youngest visitors—a place where they can learn, play, and use their imagination, which is critical to their development,” said Sarah Lewis, CEO of Main Street Children’s Museum.

Lewis added, “CMW helps create visibility for the importance of play in the lives of young children and their families and allows SCACM an opportunity to let folks know that no matter where you are in SC, you are never far from a children’s museum where you can learn, play, and explore the fascinating world around us.”

“At EdVenture Children's Museum, we believe play is powerful—it’s how children make sense of the world around them,” said Andy Marquart, CEO of EdVenture Children’s Museum. “Children’s Museum Week is a celebration of that power and a reminder of what’s possible when institutions come together with a shared purpose."

Marquart added, "Through the South Carolina Alliance of Children’s Museums, we’re able to expand our reach, strengthen our impact, and ensure more families across our state have access to meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that inspire curiosity and confidence.”