State Museum of Pennsylvania Announces December Highlights

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The State Museum of Pennsylvania today announced its program schedule for December:

Free Concert: "The Power of Story in Song and Dance," Saturday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. This concert will feature Chinese, Bosnian and Liberian master traditional artists associated with "Making it Better: Folk Arts in Pennsylvania Today," an exhibition on view at The State Museum. The concert is presented in conjunction with the annual gathering of the Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women's Network (PAIRWYN) and funded by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.

Little Elves Workshop:  Parents and grandparents are invited to bring their little ones to The State Museum Store on Friday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., to make a special holiday gift while the adults shop in our store. For ages 4-7; $3 per child, State Museum Affiliate members, free.

3rd in the Burg:  The new State Museum Store will feature special offers for holiday shoppers on Friday, Dec. 16, noon–6 p.m. Visit to find the area's most creative gifts and imaginative stocking stuffers. Purchases support the educational mission of The State Museum of Pennsylvania. Entrance to the store is always free.

Fatherhood and Family Holiday Celebration – Celebrating Kwanzaa & Christmas:  In partnership with The State Museum, Nathaniel Gadsden's Writers Wordshop will present its annual festival on Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.  A community celebration of the family, the event will feature music, food, workshops and much more. Free.

Noon Year's Eve: The State Museum welcomes the New Year with its annual Noon Year's Eve celebration for young children and their families on Thursday, Dec. 29, 10 a.m. to noon.  An opportunity for kids to enjoy their own special "ringing in the New Year," the celebration features playtime, crafts and snacks topped off by the museum's famous firefly drop in Memorial Hall at noon. This family-friendly event is free with museum admission and for State Museum Affiliate Members.

Featured Holiday Planetarium Show: "Season of Light" (all ages, 40 minutes).  Explore historical, religious, and cultural rituals from around the world that make up our modern holiday celebrations and how the motions of the Sun and Earth at the time of winter solstice impact the festivities. Weekdays: Dec. 21, noon; Dec. 22, 23, 28, 30, 11 a.m. and noon; Dec. 29, 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. Weekends:  Dec. 24 and 31, 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The State Museum Store: The newly expanded State Museum Store is open for business, offering an array of Pennsylvania-themed products and gift items for all ages. The State Museum Store is located on the ground floor of The State Museum. State Museum Affiliate Members and Pennsylvania Heritage Society members receive 10 percent off purchases at the store. Admission to the store is free. The shop is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

Holiday Closures: The State Museum will close at 3 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. The museum will be closed all day on Sundays, Dec. 25, and Jan. 1.  Administrative offices will be closed on Mondays, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 25 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History®. The State Museum offers expansive collections interpreting Pennsylvania's fascinating heritage. With exhibits examining the dawn of geologic time, the Native American experience, the colonial and revolutionary era, a pivotal Civil War battleground, and the Commonwealth's vast industrial age, The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania's story is America's story. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children and senior citizens.

For more information about the museum, visit www.statemuseumpa.org.

Media contact: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639

SOURCE Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission