Portsmouth Museums Prepare For Annual Holiday Displays

PORTSMOUTH

The Portsmouth Museums are gearing up their annual spirit of the Holiday season with Winter Wonderland, featuring the Coleman Nursery Yuletide displays that have delighted visitors for generations at the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, (PACC), and Snow Wonders at the Children’s Museum of Virginia. The Opening Weekend is Friday, November 27th – Sunday, November 29th, 2015 at Winter Wonderland: Coleman Nursery Collection. (Friday & Saturday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.)  The weekend is packed with musical performances, and special activities of face-painting, balloons, magic, crafts, and much, much more. SNOW WONDERS will take place every Friday and Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Holiday events will pack the weekends with music and holiday fun for the entire family.

Santa Claus and his many elves return to Winter Wonderland to set up their shops.  Visitors can see them busily working in their toy shop, candy store and bakery, while alongside run toy trains and woodland animals frolicking through the trees.  Victorian carolers and skaters, snow babies, penguins and more round out family favorites. 

This year on the first floor, some new figures have been added to the Sled Bear Factory; an animated polar bear, and non-animated timber wolf and fox figures.   On the second floor, a new Ginger Bread Factory  replaces the former Bakery scene.  The factory will have walls of gingerbread and contain animated figures working on preparing Christmas goodies. 

Other area scenes include a large holiday-themed train layout and many more pieces from the Coleman Collection at the changing gallery in the Children’s Museum.

The Museum Shops offer an assortment of special holiday ornaments and unique hand-crafted gifts made by local artists and craftsmen.

The Children’s Museum of Virginia,  is located at  221 High Street, (757) 393-5397, www.childrensmuseumva.com/

The Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center is at 400 High Street, (757) 393-8543, www.portsmouthartcenter.com