News
November 16, 2017Albany Museum to Host Festive, Fun and Free Thanksgiving Weekend
The Albany Institute of History & Art will be decorated and ready to welcome locals and out-of-area guests to the museum for “Home for the Holidays” this Thanksgiving weekend. The popular free admission weekend is one of the kick-off holiday events in the Capital Region. Once again, it will be packed with festive decorations and fun activities that will appeal to the entire family. Major sponsors for the weekend include Omni Development Corporation, Inc. and M&T Bank.
“Home for the Holidays is a great way to spend time with friends and family,” says the museum’s Executive Director Tammis Groft. “It’s become a favorite tradition. People come dressed up and ready to take their seasonal family photos in front of our decorated mantels and trees and then have fun making crafts together or exploring our exhibitions. Some like to start their holiday shopping with the fabulous selection of gifts in our Museum Shop or indulge in some hot cocoa and cookies in Crisan Cafe. Plus, we’re hosting Santa again this year and he is very popular!”
Groft continues, “We are so excited to offer this opportunity for people to spend time with friends and family.”
Back by popular demand, the Albany Institute will once again exhibit the miniature dioramas of Joan Steiner, an award-winning illustrator and creator of the Look-Alikes® series of books. Steiner’s meticulously crafted scenes were created from everyday objects and edible treats and photographed for her books, Look-Alikes®, Look-Alikes® Jr., Look-Alikes® Christmas, and Look-Alikes® Around the World. Translated into sixteen languages, these four books have sold over a million copies worldwide. Her first book Look-Alikes® was named one of Time Magazine’s best children’s books and one of the New York Times Book Review’s Notable Children’s Books of 1998. Steiner created her three-dimensional dioramas in her Hudson, New York studio not far from her home in Claverack. The dioramas will be set up throughout the museum and visitors will have fun finding them and studying their astonishing details.
Special activity schedule (please check www.albanyinstitute.org for updates):
- Take your photograph with Santa (12-4pm Friday—Sunday)
- Discover decorated trees and mantelpieces
- Admire a special exhibition of miniature dioramas by Joan Steiner, an award-winning illustrator and creator of the Look-Alikes® books
- Make crafts
- Shop for handmade items and one-of-a-kind gifts in our Museum Shop
- Savor exquisite treats from Crisan Cafe
- Explore our current exhibitions, including Well-Dressed in Victorian Albany: 19th Century Fashion from the Albany Institute Collection; The Hudson River School: Landscape Paintings from the Albany Institute; Spotlight: Albany & Anti-Suffrage; The Fashionable Portait
- Get tickets for great raffle baskets and win wonderful items
The Albany Institute would like to thank this year’s Home for the Holidays sponsors, including Omni Development Corporation, Inc., M&T Bank, Capital Wine, and The Costumer.
For more information about the Home for the Holidays Free Thanksgiving weekend, please visit the museum’s website: www.albanyinstitute.org [Schedule is subject to change.]
