The next Family Fun Saturday at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre on March 17 focuses on Shamrock Bunnies. Visitors can combine the popular “Bunnies Rock!” Styrofoam bunnies with seasonal St. Patrick’s Day shamrocks to create their own “Shamrock Bunny.”
The March Family Fun Saturday event will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. CDT. All supplies are provided and children should be accompanied by an adult. There is no fee for materials and admission is free during the event.
The Easter Bunny came to America with German immigrants in the 1700s. Since bunnies have large litters, the flop-eared critters became symbols of new life and fertility with spring’s arrival. Today the bunny is associated with chocolate and candy along with colored eggs in decorated baskets.
According to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock with its three-part foliage in the 5th century to illustrate the Holy Trinity as he introduced Christianity to Ireland. Today the shamrock is a widely recognized symbol of the Irish, especially on St. Patrick’s Day.
“The early Easter this year gives us a great opportunity to combine two classics – the Easter Bunny and St. Patrick’s Day shamrocks,” said Jay Smith, museum director. “What could be more fun than making an Easter Bunny with a few shamrocks, especially on St. Patrick’s Day?”
The Cultural Heritage Center holds Family Fun Days once a month, typically on a Saturday morning from 10-11:30 a.m. CDT.
The museum is open from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CDT Monday through Saturday, and 1-4:30 p.m. on Sundays and most holidays. Call 605-773-3458 for more information about exhibits, special events and upcoming activities.
About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call 605-773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call 605-394-1936 for more information.
