Utica, N.Y. — Join Munson for a festive season full of inspiring exhibitions, live performances, family-friendly workshops, and unique shopping experiences — all wrapped in the spirit of the holidays at the Munson in downtown Utica. Visit Munson’s Holiday Open House from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, featuring live music, horse-drawn wagon rides, cookies and hot cocoa, and a visit from two very special holiday guests. This event is a free event with a suggested admission of $5.
Immerse yourself in the festively decorated rooms of Fountain Elms, where you can step back in time as you explore this year’s “Victorian Yuletide: Fancy Goods” exhibition. Discover how this wondrous waterway changed the shopping experience not only in Utica but everywhere it flowed. The exhibition showcases objects created to commemorate the canal, from fine silver to imported china, revealing how these early “fancy goods” helped shape today’s holiday shopping traditions.
The Holiday Open House will also feature Pulse, a local youth-driven creative music program from New Hartford, which will share holiday tunes and showcase emerging local talent from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. Created by Jovita Bernard, owner of the Academy of Performing & Creative Arts, Pulse empowers young performers through fully funded training and performance opportunities.
You can also enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides around the property, sample hot chocolate and cookies at the Terrace Cafe, and create a holiday ornament from upcycled materials to add a personal and sustainable touch to your holiday decor. And don’t miss a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will be strolling throughout the Museum. Stop them for a photo, a smile, or a little holiday magic as you explore the festivities.
Munson will also host an Art Market in the Museum of Art Root Court from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. The Market will feature a diverse array of artistic expressions and artisanal goods, creating a festive atmosphere that celebrates the unique talents within our community, including Pratt Munson students. This event is free and open to the public.
Victorian Yuletide: Fancy Goods is sponsored by Gail Kulaga.
For a full list of Munson’s holiday offerings, visit munson.art/holidays.
Munson is at 310 Genesee St. in Utica. For more information, visit munson.art.
About Munson
Munson is an internationally recognized fine arts organization in Utica, serving diverse audiences through the renowned Munson Museum of Art, live performances and events, community arts classes, and Pratt Munson College of Art and Design, the upstate extension campus of the prestigious Pratt Institute.
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