Nov. 24, 2008

Mid-Michigan families looking for a festive, free way to spend the afternoon on Saturday, Dec. 6, should look no further than the Michigan Historical Museum in downtown Lansing. The state's history museum is set to celebrate Michigan's diverse heritage and many beloved traditions at "WinterFest" - the museum's third annual offering of music, craft, dance and art that represents the best of Michigan's cultural traditions.

WinterFest is free of charge and runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - plenty of time for visitors to enjoy a day of family-friendly activities inside the warm and cozy Michigan Historical Museum!

"We've decked our halls with holiday trimmings and added special winter and holiday displays throughout the galleries, blending Michigan history with the fun and excitement of the season," said Phillip C. Kwiatkowski, director of the Michigan Historical Museum System. "If it's been awhile since you've been to the Michigan Historical Museum, WinterFest is a terrific time to get reacquainted with all the museum and its many programs have to offer."

Highlights include:

MUSIC

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Native American Flute Music, Karen Barr(Woodland Diorama, 2nd floor)
• Noon to 12:30 p.m. - Michigan State University Russian Choir will sing Christmas carols in Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Latvian, German and Czech. Mary Black Junttonen, director (Forum Auditorium)

DANCE

• 1 to 1:30 p.m. - Irish Dance Club (Forum Auditorium)
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Directed by Gail Arndt, Grande Paraders will perform square and round dances (Lumbering Gallery, 2nd floor)
• 1 to 1:30 p.m. - Children from the Irish Dance Company of Greater Lansing will perform traditional Irish music and dance. Director Peg Murphy will talk about the history of Irish dance and music (Forum Auditorium)
• 2 to 2:30 p.m. - Directed by Maria Luz Arambula, Ballet Maria Luz, Latino Dance Company will share cultural roots through the art of dance (Forum Auditorium)

ARTS AND CRAFTS

• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Learn the Art of Henna. Create tattoos on yourself or others with Anshu Varma, who will share her knowledge of the art of Meh'ndi (henna tattoos) from India (Rotunda, 2nd Floor)
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Make traditional Michigan arts and crafts with Michigan Historical Museum staff and Docents (Museum Education Room, 1st Floor)
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Scandinavian Holiday Crafts (Rotunda, 2nd Floor)

WinterFest is sponsored by the Friends of Michigan History.

The Michigan Historical Museum is located inside the Michigan Library and Historical Center at 702 W. Kalamazoo St., two blocks west of the State Capitol in downtown Lansing. The main entrance and visitor parking are located north of Kalamazoo Street, just east of M.L. King Boulevard. Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on official state holidays. Admission and weekend parking are free. For more information visit www.michiganhistory.org or call (517) 373-3559, TDD (517) 373-1592.

The Michigan Historical Museum System is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, an agency of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, whose mission is to enrich quality of life and strengthen the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity. The department also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).