Good grief: Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang are coming to town this fall! Starting Saturday, September 13, Chicagoans can visit “Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit,” an immersive fan experience at the Chicago Children’s Museum inspired by a global initiative of the same name. Based on the captivating world depicted in Charles M. Schulz’s iconic comic strip, the exhibit will bring the beloved Peanuts gang to life through interactive displays and hands-on activities promoting self-care, empathy and environmental stewardship.
In a time when fires—both actual and ideological—are blazing across the globe, holding on to hope can feel as fruitless as Charlie Brown trying to kick that damn football into the sky. After a sensational run at the Miami Children's Museum, “Take Care with Peanuts” is calling Chicago home for six months and aspires to instill a sense of much-needed optimism in children and adults alike. Visitors can pour their hearts out in Lucy's psychiatry booth, shred on a piano with Schroeder, learn about composting with Pigpen and, of course, say hello to the world’s favorite beagle: Snoopy.
“Who doesn’t love Charlie Brown and his friends?” says Chicago Children’s Museum President and CEO Jennifer Farrington. “The important lessons in the classic Peanuts comic strip and the wonderful ‘Take Care with Peanuts’ initiative are perfect fits for the playful, joyous learning we cultivate here at Chicago Children’s Museum. We cannot wait to welcome families into our special exhibit space to get up close and personal with these cherished characters.”
The overarching hope governing “Take Care with Peanuts” is to inspire action and remind visitors to love themselves, their communities and the planet. Each child-sized Peanuts character will occupy their own personalized exhibit section—which will highlight their singular interests and personality traits—and snippets of the titular comic strips will be sprinkled throughout. In line with the exhibition’s pro-environmental messaging, several components of the exhibit are comprised of sustainable materials.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Peanuts has received renewed global attention thanks to a Gen Z-powered resurgence. From viral memes and a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade float to Baggu totes and a NASA partnership, Snoopy and his crew of kiddos have assumed a level of worship akin to sainthood. In a cultural landscape where mockery has superseded empathy (see: cringe culture), the sincerity of Snoopy toiling on his novel atop his doghouse and the tenderness of Charlie Brown having his first kiss at the Homecoming Queen Dance is a welcome reminder that we too were once so warmhearted—and we can be again.
Admission to “Take Care with Peanuts” is $21 for Illinois residents and $23 for non-residents; tickets can be purchased here. On October 3, the Chicago Children’s Museum will be holding a Peanuts 75th Anniversary Celebration, which will include after-hours exploration of the exhibit, light bites and a guided experience in the museum’s Art Studio. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.