Holiday Happenings: Creating One Final Memory for 2013

By Matt Berman

The holiday season is coming to a close at the Virginia Discovery Museum, and it's been a packed month! Here's the fifth and final part of our Holiday Happenings blog series, which will usher us in to the new year with a look at VDM's participation in this year's First Night Virginia celebration.

Another year is nearly in the books, but before we bid adieu to 2013 and ring in the awaiting 2014, join the Virginia Discovery Museum in celebrating the year that was during Charlottesville's 32nd annual First Night Virginia on Dec. 31.

This Tuesday only, the museum is extending its hours of operation to 8:30 p.m. to stay up late for the festivities! From 3 to 7:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve, the museum will transform into the Creation Station, where First Night Virginia participants can engage their imaginations in a series of unique crafts that can then be worn during the evening's processional on the Downtown Mall.

Started in 1982, First Night Virginia is the Charlottesville community's annual family-friendly celebration of the arts and is the second oldest event of its kind in the country. Entertainment and activities include musical performances, magic shows, comedy skits, and more.

If You're Going ...

• Admission: First Night Virginia wristbands provide access to all events on the Downtown Mall. Wristbands can be purchased at the Discovery Museum, as well as at several other locations around town or online until Dec. 30. On Dec. 31, wristbands can only be purchased at the First Night Virginia headquarters in the Omni Hotel Atrium and Paramount Theater.

• Cost: Until Dec. 30, wristbands are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 15. A Family Pack of two adult wristbands and two child wristbands costs $35. On Dec. 31, prices increase to $18 for adults, $7 for children, and $43 for the Family Pack. Children 5 and younger get in free because they're just so darn adorable.

• Have a question? There's a good chance there's an answer for many of your questions here on the First Night Virginia FAQ page: http://www.firstnightva.org/fnv_faq.html

The Discovery Museum will also be open to non-First Night Virginia visitors for regular play time during Tuesday's extended hours. VDM admission is $6 per person for adults and children over 1. Children younger than 1 get into the museum for free. Visitors who show their AAA or AARP card or a valid military ID receive a $.50 discount per person. VDM is a member of the ASTC Passport and ACM reciprocal programs, as well.

On behalf of the Virginia Discovery Museum staff, enjoy the rest of the holiday season and have a happy New Year!

Matt Berman is the Exhibits and Marketing Manager at the Virginia Discovery Museum. Reach him at exhibits@vadm.org or marketing@vadm.org.

Holiday Happenings: Christmas Closings

By Matt Berman

The holiday season is in full swing at the Virginia Discovery Museum, and there's so much going on! To help you keep track of it all, here's part four of a five-part blog series called Holiday Happenings, which will detail some of the major events taking place at the museum through January 1.

Even during this season of mirth and merriment, there are still those downer topics that manage to make their way into our discourse: That ugly Christmas sweater you received last year. That fruitcake that's been re-gifted again and again. Working during the holidays.

Ugh. There goes my holiday cheer.

In the same vein, nobody wants to hear about their favorite local nonprofit children's museum (wink, wink) shutting down for Christmas. But like that fruitcake, it's something that needs to be addressed. (Seriously, just throw it away. Or use it as a door stop.)

So ... bad news, good news.

First, the bad: The Virginia Discovery Museum will be closed this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. We hope you enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with your friends and families as our staff spends time with our own. There will be no drop-in programs this week, and they will not resume until the new year.

The good news? We're only closed those two days! We're open today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so if you're not busy traveling for the holidays, stop by to see us for some pre-Christmas play time. After the two-day hiatus, we'll resume regular business hours on Thursday.

From all of us at the Virginia Discovery Museum, we wish you safe travels and a very merry Christmas! We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Looking Ahead: Check back on Sunday when our Destination: Discovery blog wraps up the Holiday Happenings series and takes a look at VDM's participation in First Night Virginia.

Matt Berman is the Exhibits and Marketing Manager at the Virginia Discovery Museum. Reach him at exhibits@vadm.org or marketing@vadm.org.

Holiday Happenings: Santa Claus Came to Town!

Posted by Matt Berman

The holiday season is in full swing at the Virginia Discovery Museum, and there's so much going on! To help you keep track of it all, here's part three of a five-part blog series called Holiday Happenings, which will detail some of the major events taking place at the museum through January 1.

One of our little guests was decked out in his Sunday finest -- a bow tie and sports coat
-- to see Santa. After he and his family enjoyed breakfast at their table in our log cabin
exhibit, the little gentleman had the opportunity to meet St. Nick face-to-face.
(Photos submitted by VDM member)

Santa Claus is coming to town, or so the popular Christmas tune goes. But for more than 20 families, the cheerful chum's visit came a little earlier than expected. The festive fellow in red stopped by the Virginia Discovery Museum's inaugural Santa Pancake Breakfast on Sunday morning to visit all of the tiny attendees as he passed through Charlottesville to make final checks on his Naughty or Nice list.

As families arrived to the event -- which saw a turnout of nearly 65 people -- they were seated at their own private tables throughout the museum and perused personalized menus of food, which included choices of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and apple slices. While waiting for breakfast to be served, guests also enjoyed an array of hot and cold beverages like hot chocolate, apple cider, milk, and orange juice (as well as coffee and mimosas for the adults!).

As tasty as the morning meal was, though, nothing could compare to the excitement over the guest of honor's arrival once the plates had been cleared. Peering over and around their chairs -- some even standing on their tip-toes -- kids throughout the museum craned their necks to catch a peek of St. Nick as he stopped at every table and spent several minutes chatting with each family one-on-one.

Counting the tables that remained until his turn with the jolly old elf -- "First he will visit that one, then he'll visit that one ..." -- one little boy could no longer contain his excitement over Santa's impending arrival at his seat.

"... and then he's coming HERE!" the boy exclaimed, emphatically slamming his fist down on the table and sending the chocolate sprinkles he had used to decorate his pancakes flying in every direction.

Thank you to all who joined us Sunday morning for such a fun, friendly (and unabashedly enthusiastic!) holiday meal. We look forward to continuing our Santa Pancake Breakfast next year, and hope you'll join us again!

 

Later this week: Check back on Friday for part four of our Holiday Happenings series, which will take a look at VDM's hours and closings next week.

Matt Berman is the Exhibits and Marketing Manager at the Virginia Discovery Museum. Reach him at exhibits@vadm.org or marketing@vadm.org.