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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.

Decorations for the Christmas season were provided by Dougherty Electrical.
Decorations for the Christmas season were provided by Dougherty Electric.
Mount Pleasant, the first stop on A Christmas Carol tour.
Mount Pleasant, the first stop on A Christmas Carol tour.
The foyer at Mount Pleasant is decorated with a lighted Christmas tree and other festive ornaments.
The foyer at Mount Pleasant is decorated with a lighted Christmas tree and other festive ornaments.
Mr. Fezziwig: aka Robert DaPonte, addresses the group at Mount Pleasant. and teaches them a timely dance. Mrs. Fezziwig and I love this night! We love to dance. We love to eat and drink. And we wish to share this evening with those whose happiness and health is in our care.. he tells all.
Mr. Fezziwig: aka Robert DaPonte, addresses the group at Mount Pleasant. and teaches them a
timely dance. Mrs. Fezziwig said,” I love this night! We love to dance. We love to eat and drink. And we wish to share this evening with those whose happiness and health is in our care… he tells all.”
Mr. Fezziwig poses for Explore Philly.
Mr. Fezziwig poses for Explore Philly.
Katie Croyle, the tour narrator, and Robert DaPonte pose for Explore Philly.
Katie Croyle, the tour narrator, and Robert DaPonte pose for Explore Philly.
Mr. Fezziwig bids adieuto his visitors.
Mr. Fezziwig bids adieuto his visitors.
At Cedar Grove, Mrs. Cratchet welcomes the visitors.
At Cedar Grove, Mrs. Cratchet welcomes the visitors.
The house also is nicely decorated in the Christmas spirit.
The house also is nicely decorated in the Christmas spirit.
Mrs. Cratchet's sweets abound.
Mrs. Cratchet’s sweets abound.
Holly at Cedar Grove: Let me also observe that many of us probably have a wonderful story of the Christmas spirit filling us a bit too much with love for our fellow men and women.
Holly at Cedar Grove: “Let me also observe that many of us probably have a wonderful story of the Christmas spirit filling us a bit too much with love for our fellow men and women.”
At Cedar Grove, the table is set for the holiday.
At Cedar Grove, the table is set for the holiday.
Cedar Grove is a small house. And here tonight, in its large kitchen Mrs. Cratchit, the wife of Mr. Scrooge's clerk. She, like many of her fellow London wives and hostesses, is busy preparing the Christmas meal. Sarah Fraunfelder [;ays Mrs. Cratchit.
Cedar Grove is a small house. And here tonight, in its large kitchen Mrs. Cratchit, the wife of Mr. Scrooge’s clerk. She, like many of her fellow London wives and hostesses, is busy preparing the Christmas meal.
Mrs Cratchit tells her audience on Christmas day we have quite a feast with a goose, and potatoes and gravy and applesauce. The applesauce I have made months ago, when apples were cheap and plentiful. A sweaty and fatiguing week of peeling,
Mrs Cratchit tells her audience on Christmas day we have quite a feast with a goose, and potatoes and gravy and applesauce. “The applesauce I have made months ago, when apples were cheap and plentiful. A sweaty and fatiguing week of peeling,” she said.
Lemon Hill is the largest of the three houses on the tour. It also is decorated for the holiday season.
Lemon Hill is the largest of the three houses on the tour. It also is decorated for the holiday season.
Sceooge descends the stirway to greet his visitors.
Sceooge descends the stairway to greet his visitors.
Scrooge is played by Bradley Wrenn.
Scrooge is played by Bradley Wrenn.
At Lemon Hill, a reformed Scrooge addresses the group at Lemon Hill. Bradley Wrenn
At Lemon Hill, a reformed Scrooge addresses the group at Lemon Hill.
The dining room table is festive and ready for the holiday.