<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <p>What do you get when you mix <a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_739237">C-3PO</a> (the real one!), an Oscar-nominated movie, classic toys, heritage chocolate, gorgeous seasonal decorations, great gifts (with free gift wrap), delicious food, and the world's best history museum? The Smithsonian Holiday Festival at the National Museum of American History. This year's festival, on December 5 and 6, has something for everyone to enjoy. There's a lot going on, but here are the highlights I personally recommend. See the <a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Dseries%26seriesid%3D1106471">full calendar of activities</a> at the 11 participating locations.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="media-image" height="550" width="363" rel="lightbox" src="http://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/Pal%20Joey_1.jpg?itok=2ayJGUjh" /></p><p><strong>On the Big Screen</strong><br>Free screenings of <em>Pal Joey</em> (1957)<br>Warner Bros. Theater, 1 Center<br>Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. <br>I'm looking forward to seeing Frank Sinatra play Joey Evans, a charming, handsome ladies man, in this musical co-starring Rita Hayworth and Linda Novak.</p><p><strong>On Exhibit</strong><br><em><a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/frank-sinatra-100">Frank Sinatra at 100</a></em><br>1 Center<br>December 12, 2015, marks the 100th anniversary of Frank Sinatra's birth. Our case has highlights from his life and his career.</p><p><em><a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/toys-and-childhood">Toys and Childhood</a></em><br>1 East<br>These toys are from a collection of over 1,400 cast-iron and tinplate toys, dating from the 1870s to the 1950s.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_739237" target="_blank"><img alt="C-3PO costume" class="auto-caption media-image img__fid__16769 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/C-3PO_solo_0.jpg?itok=DjWGRITy" style="width: 436px; height: 550px;" title="C-3PO costume from "Return of the Jedi" (1983)"></a></p><p>C-3PO costume from <em>Return of the Jedi</em> on display, in <em><a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/american-stories">American Stories</a></em><br>2 East<br>See the costume at the museum November 24, 2015, through early February 2016.</p><p><strong>On the Schedule</strong><br>Heritage Chocolate Demonstrations and Tastings<br>3 West<br>Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. <br>Learn about colonial chocolate making and taste the difference. (Here's a <a href="https://twitter.com/amhistorymuseum/status/609013418578849792">quick preview</a> of what you'll see and smell in this fun demo.)</p><p>Operation Gratitude<br>3 East<br>Saturday, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. <br>Each year, Operation Gratitude sends over 150,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment, hygiene items, and personal letters of appreciation to new recruits, veterans, first responders, Wounded Warriors, and individually named U.S. Service Members deployed overseas. One of the highlights? Handmade cards and notes. Stop by to write a note of appreciation to be included in a care package.</p><p>Book Signings<br>1 Center, in front of the world's biggest <a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/lego-american-flag">Lego American flag</a> <br>Saturday and Sunday, <a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/press/releases/calendar-exhibition-and-events-national-museum-american-history-december-2015">check schedule</a><br>Meet more than 10 authors who will happily chat about and sign their books. On Saturday, I'm looking forward to meeting the <em>Washington Post's</em> national baseball correspondent, Barry Svrluga, when he signs his book <em>The Grind: Inside Baseball's Endless Season.</em> On Sunday, our own Curator Ellen Fiengold signs <em>The Value of Money</em> and <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author Tony DiTerlizzi signs his book, <em>So You Want to Be a Jedi?</em> Check out the <a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/press/releases/calendar-exhibition-and-events-national-museum-american-history-december-2015">full schedule</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Holiday tree with Smithsonian Castle ornament " class="auto-caption media-image img__fid__16763 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/Tree_2015.jpg?itok=KgqyQAg2" style="width: 550px; height: 481px;" title="Festive flair in the museum"></p><p>Food Friday: L'Academie de Cuisine Chef Brian Patterson<br>Friday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. <br>How do we use food to help usher in a new year? Chef Brian will show us how to prepare a traditional New Year's Day dish of the American South—hoppin' John. We'll explore the history of this Southern culinary treasure and touch on how different foods have become important symbols and elements of New Years' celebrations around the country.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalmuseumofamericanhistory/14437466242/in/photolist-nFVZ2L-nY89MH-nYpVM4-nHnGVZ-nZKw2b-nHnHdx-nHqpfd-nZMMHL" target="_blank"><img alt="People in uniform singing outside the museum" class="auto-caption media-image img__fid__16765 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/Singing.jpg?itok=uJsSsJle" style="width: 550px; height: 367px;" title="The Singing Sergeants have performed outside the museum in the past. This December, it's an indoor performance! "></a></p><p><strong>On Key</strong><br>Singing Sergeants with Combo <br>Flag Hall, 2 Center <br>Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. <br>The United States Air Force's Singing Sergeants with Combo will perform your holiday and Sinatra favorites.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Ruby Slipper ornaments and t-shirt" class="auto-caption media-image img__fid__16764 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/Shop_Oz_0.jpg?itok=RKrzFMzH" style="width: 550px; height: 348px;" title="There are lots of gifts and stocking stuffers to choose from in our Main Store"></p><p><strong>On Your Shopping List</strong></p><p>Main Store, 1 Center; Mall Store, 2 Center; Price of Freedom Store, 3 East<br>Our stores are stocked with holiday gifts for everyone—toys, books, clothing, jewelry, home accessories, even dog tags. You won't go home empty handed, and your gifts can be wrapped for free! Two of my favorite gifts to give: our lovely cookbooks will delight mom, and grandma will get a sparkle in her eye for our sparkly Ruby Slippers ornaments.</p><p><strong>On the Menu</strong><br>Stars & Stripes Café, Lower Level; LeRoy Neiman Jazz Café, 1st Floor <br>Too much to do and see? Take a break at our cafes for lunch or a snack. You can enjoy your favorite holiday food and dessert or our always excellent barbecue, salad bar, and freshly baked pizza.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Dseries%26seriesid%3D1106471" target="_blank"><img alt="Holiday tree and abstract American flag sculpture" class="auto-caption media-image img__fid__16792 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/yayayaya%20holiday.jpg?itok=kqfEyKSa" style="width: 550px; height: 413px;" title="Happy holidays!"></a></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-posted-date field-type-datetime field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Posted Date: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Monday, November 23, 2015 - 05:45</span></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">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%2Fsmithsonian-holiday-fest-what-not-miss">View the discussion thread.</a></p></noscript></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=lCUhbC-be7s:UgWIv6_y8WY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=lCUhbC-be7s:UgWIv6_y8WY:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=lCUhbC-be7s:UgWIv6_y8WY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?i=lCUhbC-be7s:UgWIv6_y8WY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=lCUhbC-be7s:UgWIv6_y8WY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?i=lCUhbC-be7s:UgWIv6_y8WY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=lCUhbC-be7s:UgWIv6_y8WY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/OSayCanYouSee/~4/lCUhbC-be7s" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>
