Harrisburg, PA - The State Museum of Pennsylvania is adding a few special holiday happenings to their regular schedule of programs and events: a special planetarium show, museum store sales days, and a family-friendly way to ring in the new year. For a full listing of all available programs, visit www.statemuseumpa.org/events.
The State Museum Planetarium presents Season of Light, a traditionally styled holiday show for all ages that looks at astronomy and holiday traditions. Although the season is cold and dark, it holds some of the warmest and brightest celebrations of the year. Season of Light traces the history and development of holiday customs that involve lighting up the winter season, from the burning Yule log, sparkling Christmas tree lights, candles in windows and luminarias to the traditional ritual of the Hanukkah menorah and the Star of Bethlehem. Season of Light is a Loch Ness Production. The show schedule follows:
Thursday, December 15 and Friday, December 16 at 12:00 noon
Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18 at 1:00 PM
Wednesday, December 21, Thursday, December 22 and Friday December 23 at 12 Noon and 2:00 PM
Planetarium shows are $3 per person in addition to general admission. Tickets must be purchased at the main entrance at least 10 minutes before showtime. Planetarium admission is free to State Museum Affiliates and members of the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation.
Museum Store Winter Sale Days, December 17–18, 21–23
Shoppers can save 25 percent on a broad assortment of highly curated, unique holiday gifts in The State Museum Store. This special savings excludes sale and clearance items and cannot be combined with other discounts.
The State Museum Store is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Sunday, 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM. Entrance to The State Museum Store is always free.
Noon Year’s Eve Celebration, Friday, December 30, at 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Museum visitors can ring in the New Year at this family-friendly event. Activities include crafts, trivia games, dancing, and the famous firefly and streamer drop at noon.
Noon Year’s Eve is included with general admission. State Museum member and military discounts will apply.
In conjunction with Noon Year’s Eve, Curiosity Connection will have limited timed-tickets available for 45 minutes of play per hour starting on the hour from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Limited tickets must be picked up at the main entrance and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
In addition, planetarium shows will be available for $3 per person, with shows scheduled at the Planetarium. Tickets must be purchased at the main entrance at least 10 minutes before showtime. The featured shows are Animals of the Night and Seasons.
Designed for young viewers, Animals of the Night is a traditionally styled show that helps viewers use their imagination to see pictures in the sky, learn about constellations, follow basic movements of the Earth, and discover animals that can be found in Pennsylvania and in the night sky. Animals of the Night is a production of the Planetarium at The State Museum of Pennsylvania.
In Seasons, Planetarium visitors learn the causes for the Earth’s changes in each season and the surprising role seasonal change plays in human life and history. Seasons is a production of the Planetarium at The State Museum of Pennsylvania.
Animals of the Night is scheduled to run at 10:15 AM, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM and Seasons is shown at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
Holiday closures: The State Museum will be closed Saturday, December 24, Sunday, December 25, Saturday, December 31, and Sunday, January 1.
ABOUT THE STATE MUSEUM OF PENNSYLVANIA
The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 23 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History. The State Museum offers expansive collections interpreting Pennsylvania’s fascinating heritage. With exhibits examining the dawn of geologic time, the Native American experience, the colonial and revolutionary eras, a pivotal Civil War battleground, and the commonwealth's vast industrial age, The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania's story is America’s story.
Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Admission is $7 for adults (ages 12–64), $6 for senior citizens (ages 65 and up), and $5 for children (ages 1–11).
For more information about the museum, including the full schedule of exhibits, programs and events, visit www.statemuseumpa.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACT: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639