Celebrate the holidays all season long in a winter wonderland at the History Center’s Festival of Trees, open Nov. 27 through Jan. 2. Last year, we had 25 elaborately decorated trees; this year, we have 50! 

In addition to our regular hours of Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., the History Center is open noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays between Thanksgiving and the New Year. Guests can tour an exhibition highlighting IHS’s charming holiday-based photos and enjoy fun, family-friendly activities and events. 

Weekend programming includes marionettes, visits from a vintage Santa, craft-making, face painting and more. Additional after-hours adult programming adds a different twist to the holidays. 

Visit free on Saturday, Dec. 5, for the Holiday Author Fair and Friday, Dec. 11, for Statehood Day. On Tuesday, Dec. 22, we’ll be open until 9 p.m. 

Presented by The Lacy Foundation with support from The Mothershead Foundation 

SCHEDULE 

DAILY 

Sing-Alongs 
Join us in the Cole Porter Room as a singer leads us through holiday-themed songs and entertains us with Porter standards. 

Elf on the Shelf 
Where is the History Center’s Elf on the Shelf today? Check our Facebook page for an image and then visit us to see what he’s gotten into. Tell our Welcome Center you found him, and get a little prize.

SATURDAYS IN DECEMBER 

Vintage Santa 
Noon to 4 p.m. (before Christmas) 

A Santa from the past will stroll through the History Center to hand out special treats to children of all ages. 

Holiday Handmades 
Noon to 4 p.m. 

Drop by to create a special handmade craft to take home with you! From coloring to creating an elf to paper works, there’s a lot to choose from for kids of all ages. 

SUNDAYS IN DECEMBER 

Winter Face Painting 
Noon to 4 p.m. 

Let our artist add some winter charm to your look with this special face painting opportunity. 

Growing Little Leaves: Family Traditions 
(for adults) 

Sunday, Dec. 6
1 to 3 p.m. 

This program examines family traditions using the books American Girl and My Name is America, and explores how these traditions can teach children about different religions, cultures and time periods. 

AND MORE

Know No Stranger presents
The Christmas That Never Was

Saturday, Dec. 12 
Noon, 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.  

The tree is glistening like the snow outside, but the calendar skips from Dec. 24 to 26! Find out what happens to Christmas in this exciting live performance. 

The Melchior Marionettes
Holiday Cabaret 

Sunday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 20 
Noon, 12:45 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. 

This wonderful music-filled variety show is perfect for the whole family – guaranteed to please even Scrooge.

Good Beers and Ugly Sweaters

Wednesday, Dec. 16 
5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  

Join us for a special holiday happy hour! Wear your ugliest holiday sweater and enjoy some good holiday cheer as you taste complimentary seasonal beers produced by local craft brewers. 

$8 IHS members, $10 nonmembers, $15 at the door. Ages 21+. 

An #INCrowd event 

An Evening at Festival of Trees 

Tuesday, Dec. 22 
5 to 9 p.m. 

Bring the family to see the trees at night. We’ll have our strolling vintage Santa and special Holiday Handmades.