Philadelphia Museum of Art Offers Festive Holiday Programs, Chef Classes, Choral Groups and More
Story, photos by Lou Perri
In the weeks ahead, the Philadelphia Museum of Art programs will range from daily art-making workshops, live cooking demonstrations and caroling to trolley tours of the historic houses of Fairmount Park including live entertainment by colorful characters from Charles Dickens’s celebrated “A Christmas Carol”.
A Fairmount Christmas Carol, according to Justina Barrett, site manager for historic houses, visitors will encounter Charles Dickens’s Mr. Fezziwig, Mrs. Cratchit, and Scrooge himself at Mount Pleasant, Cedar Grove, and Lemon Hill on Friday, Dec. 18. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., tours depart from the museum every 30 minutes. The last tour is at 7:30 p.m. and tours are 90 minutes. Reservations and paid tickets are required.
A broad array of choral groups, Joy Diebert, the museum’s press officer, told Explore Philly, is also scheduled. From Saturday, Dec. 26 through Wednesday, Dec. 30, visitors can also enjoy daily musical performances in the Great Stair Hall at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. with the Lost Keys (December 26), the Haddonfield High School Madrigal (December 27), the Upper Darby High School Singers (December 28), Nashirah: Jewish Chorale of Greater Philadelphia (December 29), and the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus (December 30).
The special exhibition on view, Ms Diebert mentioned is the acclaimed Audubon to Warhol: The Art of American Still Life (through January 10). Multitude, Solitude: The Photographs of Dave Heath will be on view through February 21, and India-themed exhibitions will open at the Perelman Building on December 6, including Drawn from Courtly India: The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection and Picture This: Contemporary Photography and India.
Starr Catering Group, she noted, will offer Chef Demonstrations in the Cafeteria throughout the season. Classes are 90 minutes and offer hands-on tutorials on global cuisine. A Treats and Sweets demonstration will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Ring in 2016 with a special New Year’s Day brunch featuring food inspired by Paris, the City of Light; seatings are available from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The seasonal decorations have been generously provided by Dougherty Electric, Inc.
For a full schedule of holiday activities at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, visit philamuseum.org/holidays.