Lambton County museums are offering holiday-themed special events Nov. 17 while kids are out of school for a teacher professional activity day.
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The Lambton Heritage Museum in Lambton Shores and the Oil Museum of Canada in Oil Springs are hosting holiday open houses from 11 am to 3 pm with historical Christmas-themed activities.
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“We’re really trying to emphasize the museum as a place that families can come to on those days,” said Lambton county museums and archives’ Jessica Stevenson.
“A lot of families are looking for things to do with their children” and “one of our goals is to have people associate us” with PA days, Stevenson said.
“The holiday open houses typically do very well,” she said. “They’re very popular.”
The Oil Museum open house is free this year, thanks to funding from Shell, said educational program director Christina Sydorko. Visitors are welcome to bring non-perishable food donations for a local bank.
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“We do have a Victorian Santa coming,” she added. “And he is a jolly elf.”
Dressed in a red and green Victorian-era “britches” and vest, instead of the usual red outfit trimmed with white fur, Santa will pose for photos and read stories, Sydorko said. “His favorite is ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
“We have little treat bags for all the kids,” she added. “There will be cookies and warm wassail,” a heritage apple cider drink with cinnamon, cloves and orange slices, crafts, Christmas trees and music.
“It’s going to be a really fun day,” she said.
At Lambton Heritage Museum, warm apple cider and wood-burning stoves will set the mood at its historic buildings.
“In our Tudhop House, we have a costumed historical re-enactor,” discussing how pioneer families would prepare for Christmas, Stevenson said.
A tractor will pull a hayride around the museum grounds, and activity and craft stations will explore holiday traditions brought to Canada from around the world.
Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students, $3 for children, and free for children three and under. It’s $15 for families of up to two adults and four school-aged children.
Both museums offer holiday season education programs for school and homeschool groups, aimed at kindergarten to Grade 4, Nov. 21 to Dec. 20.
For more information, visit lambtonmuseums.ca.
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