<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p><em>Business Program Manager Kathy Sklar doesn't want you to miss the museum's holiday festivities. Here's why.</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="asset-image media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__12046 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/holiday%20festival.jpg?itok=W4udHvyI" style="width: 480px; height: 240px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p><p>1. Free screenings of <em>The Muppet Christmas Carol Movie</em>, followed by a talk by Curator Dwight Blocker Bowers who will be accompanied by his Muppet friends, Kermit, Fozi Bear, Swedish Chef, and Elmo. (Three shows per day. See showtimes <a href="http://www.si.edu/Events/Calendar/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Dseries%26seriesid%3D1106471">here</a>.)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="asset-image media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__12047 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/muppet%20christmas%20carol%20poster.jpg?itok=lyopzDw2" style="width: 365px; height: 480px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p><p>2. Performances by the U.S. Air Force Silver Wings Band. They'll go caroling, too. See performance times on our <a href="http://www.si.edu/Events/Calendar/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Dseries%26seriesid%3D1106471">calendar</a>.</p><p>3. Simulator rides. Use your <a href="http://www.groupon.com/deals/smithsonian-2">Groupon</a> and ride our simulators. (It's a great deal: up to ten IMAX movies and simulator rides for just $25.</p><p>4. A chance to meet fabulous authors and buy personally signed books! Todd Gray of Equinox Restaurant will have samples from <em>The New Jewish Table</em>, and Elaine Eff will showcase her fabulous <em>Painted Screens of Baltimore</em>. We'll even have painted screens from our collection out of storage for you to see. You can also try out a real stereoscope and meet Paula Fleming, author of <em>Diableries: Stereoscopic Adventures in Hell.</em></p><p>5. Jewelry and clothing trunk shows. Buy fabulous gifts from the artisans themselves.</p><p>6. Free gift wrapping. </p><p>7. Free shuttle buses among the museums around the National Mall (so you can experience their terrific holiday festival events as well).</p><p>8. Current exhibitions include <em>American Stories</em>, <em>FOOD: Transforming the American Table</em>, and the First Ladies gowns. This time of year, you won't be competing with tourists to see Julia Child's kitchen or snap a selfie with the Ruby Slippers. </p><p>9. Our cafes are serving delectable holiday treats, like cookies and hot chocolate.</p><p>10. Using authentic colonial tools, American Heritage™ Chocolate ambassadors will demonstrate how drinking chocolate was made, and offer samples in our Bean to Beverage: American Heritage Chocolate Demonstrations. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="asset-image media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__12158 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/AC0060-0000714.jpg?itok=_015wQmh" style="width: 297px; height: 480px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p><p><em>A little holiday cheer from our Archives Center's <a>Warshaw Collection</a>: a trade card advertising <a>N.K. Fairbank Company soap.</a> </em></p><p>11. Write a letter to the troops. In partnership with the National Postal Museum and Operation Gratitude, share some holiday cheer with military personnel. </p><p>12. Our stores have a fabulous selection of ornaments, calendars, books, jewelry, home accessories, toys, and clothing. Unique gifts for all! Your purchase supports the educational mission of the Smithsonian.</p><p>13. Create a holiday memory at the Sharp Shooter Photo Booth. You and your family can pose for a photo with our most precious objects, and take the photo home as a souvenir.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="asset-image media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__12048 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/dsc_0002_01.jpg?itok=EwHedMtp" style="width: 480px; height: 360px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p><p><em>Kathy Sklar is the museum's business program manager.</em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-user field-type-user-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Related Staff Member: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/users/sklarkat">SklarKat</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Categories: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/blog-tags/food-shopping" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Food & Shopping</a></li></ul></div><div id="disqus_thread"><noscript><p><a href="http://amhistorymuseum.disqus.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Famericanhistory.si.edu%2Fblog%2F13-reasons-attend-our-holiday-festival-december-6-and-7">View the discussion thread.</a></p></noscript></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=WkeSJPqzx00:YD6skqsHhnE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=WkeSJPqzx00:YD6skqsHhnE:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=WkeSJPqzx00:YD6skqsHhnE:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?i=WkeSJPqzx00:YD6skqsHhnE:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=WkeSJPqzx00:YD6skqsHhnE:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?i=WkeSJPqzx00:YD6skqsHhnE:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=WkeSJPqzx00:YD6skqsHhnE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/OSayCanYouSee/~4/WkeSJPqzx00" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>
