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Holiday Happenings at New York City Museums

Come holiday time in New York, visitors flock to feel-good seasonal experiences. The museums of the city lead the way, with some incredible displays and programs. Enjoy them while you can!

NYHS Jerni Collection

Kids and adults alike will enjoy Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection at the New-York Historical Society. Multi-media screens provide the illusion that miniature trains are zooming throughout the museum; the exhibit includes a display of mini trains, figurines and models, through February 25, 2018. 170 Central Park West, nyhistory.org

MoMa PS 1 celebrates the end of the year with a holiday party on December 15. The “Night at the Museum Artist Holiday Party” invites visitors to explore current exhibits and enjoy cocktails, treats and music. (moma.org, 22-25 Jackson Avenue; Long Island City)

dickens leech morgan library

John Leech (1817–1864), Scrooge’s Third Visitor, 1843, drawing for an illustration used in the first edition of A Christmas Carol, watercolor over pencil, The Morgan Library & Museum, 2006.21, purchased in 1941.

And what’s more Christmas-y than A Christmas CarolCharles Dickens and the Spirit of Christmas is on display at the Morgan Library & Museum (though January 14, 2018). Visitors can catch glimpse of manuscripts of all five of his Christmas stories, including the iconic story of Tiny Tim and Ebeneezer Scrooge. The exhibit also explores the inspiration for the book. 225 Madison Ave., themorgan.org

Metropolitan Museum of Art tree

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the iconic Christmas tree is on view in front of a 50-foot-tall choir screen in the Medieval Courtyard. The real draw here is the 18th- century crèche at the base, and the 50 angels that adorn the tree. Stay there for awhile to hear the carols that periodically fill the hall; there are also a number of tree lighting ceremonies. In addition, various holiday programs are scheduled throughout the month of December; on December 20, for instance, New York Baroque Incorporated plays holiday music. There’s also a beautiful late 19th-century silver menorah on view in the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Galleries through January 12, 2018; it’s one of the largest silver Hanukkahs lamps known. (1000 Fifth Avenue; metmuseum.org).

christmas trees in new york

Image: Stephanie/Flickr

Across the park at the American Museum of Natural History, they’ve taken a different approach with their origami holiday tree, now in its 40th year. In partnership with Origami USA, the Museum displays a tree adorned with more than 800 ornaments, including a saber-toothed tiger and a giant star. Visitors might even get the chance to make their own ornaments with volunteers stationed on duty. On Sunday December 30, there’s a music-filled event in honor of Kwanzaa, the holiday celebrating African-American heritage. (amnh.org; Central Park West and 79th Street).

If you've got some shopping to do, RE:FINE Holiday 2017 at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) displays a new collection of contemporary fine jewelry. "Redefining Fine Jewelry Holiday 2017" marks the third season of the store's foray into the world of fine jewelry, bringing together a highly curated group of 30 international artists and designers, all available for sale.

If you’re looking for Hanukkah happenings, the Jewish Museum (thejewishmuseum.org) is offering a Hanukkah-inspired family program on December 18 from 12-4 PM. Families can craft, hear music, and visit the museum’s collection of Hanukkah lamps. A number of exhibits at the Museum also celebrate Hanukkah—check out “Light x 8: The Hanukkah Project,” in which eight contemporary artists use light to create objects and spaces; or “Seven Artists Inspired by Hanukah,” which features contemporary works from the museum’s collection.

About the Author

Evan Levy runs fable & lark, which offers interactive museum tours inspired by great stories. See fableandlark.com for all the details. In addition, she's the author of two children's picture books. She loves stories in any form, and lives in New York with her family.

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