Upcoming and Ongoing Fun Stuff in December!!!

Upcoming
and
Ongoing
Fun Stuff

Good as Gold. The Eric Carle Museum Picture Book Art, Amherst. Dec. 2 – Jan. 6. (Tues. –Fri. 10–4; Sat. 10–5; Sun. 12–5). Celebrate 65 years of Golden Books by constructing a shimmering assemblage of marvelous materials. A $9, C (1-18), under 1, free and family $22.50. 413-658-1110, carlemuseum.org

FREE Winterlights Festival. Shops at Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. festive holiday entertainment and activities each weekend! For a full listing of activities, contact 617-236-3100, prudentialcenter.com

Harry Potter: The Exhibition. Museum of Science, Boston. Peer into the wizard’s world in a new exhibit featuring more than 200 authentic props and costumes from the Harry Potter films, all displayed in settings inspired by the film sets -- including the Great Hall, Hagrid’s hut and the Gryffindor™ common room. View iconic film artifacts such as Harry’s glasses, the Marauder’s Map, and Hermione’s Yule Ball gown, and pause to pull a screeching Mandrake from its pot or try your hand at tossing a “Quaffle.”A $6 PP, C (3-11) $23. 617-723-2500, mos.org.

Celebrating the Season: Icons of Saint Nicholas. Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton. Through Jan. 9. Did you know Museum of Russian Icons Founder, Mr. Gordon B. Lankton began his collection with a Saint Nicholas icon? Saint Nicholas icons form the foundation of the Museum’s collection which contains a variety of images portraying this beloved patron saint of the poor and oppressed. A$5, C (16 and under), free. 978-598-5000 x17, museumofrussianicons.org

Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature. Concord Museum, Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Rd., Concord. Dec. 4 - Jan. 3. The Museum is filled with fanciful trees of all shapes and sizes decorated with inspiration from acclaimed children’s storybooks and contemporary picture book favorites. Proceeds from Family Trees, organized by the Museum’s Guild of Volunteers, benefit the Concord Museum’s educational mission. A $15, C $6. 978-369-9763, concordmuseum.org

Art Classes at Rollstone Studios: SunPrints. 633 Main St., Fitchburg. December 5, 12, and 19. 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Sunprints: Artists will create blueprints integrating found objects and negatives created on the computer. Bring some of your favorite family photographs to the workshop to use in creating unique artwork suitable for holiday giving. All artists materials will be supplied, Open to children ages 8-14. $15 Registration required. 978-348-ART1, rollstoneartists.com.

Breakfast With Santa. Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, Mystic, CT. December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19-22. 8 a.m. – Noon. Gather the family for a morning of festive activities, games, a full breakfast buffet by Ocean Blue Catering and visit with Santa inside the aquarium. Professional photographers will be available for photos with Santa at an additional cost. Activities are geared toward children age 10 and under. $12 PP. 860-572-5955 x520, mysticaquarium.org. Also check out Munchkin Morning on Fri. Dec. 4th.

FREE FOR MOMS New Babies/New Moms group. WarmLines, 225 Nevada St., Newton. 1 - 2:30 p.m. First-time mothers are invited to begin the New Year at Warmlines with a free New Babies/New Moms group. Pre-register now and begin a six-week session on Wed., Jan. 6 from 1-2:30p.m. 617-244-4636, warmlines.org

Mechanical Menagerie. Providence Children’s Museum Providence, RI. Through Jan. 31. See a collection of incredible creatures fashioned from recycled electronics and other repurposed junk – including antelopes, birds, bugs, frogs, a jellyfish and more – plus have a chance to concoct some curious critters of your own. $7.50 PP, under 12 months, free. 401- 273-5437, childrenmuseum.org

Best of the Art & Nature Center. Peabody Essex Museum, Salem. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Dec. 19 – Jan. 3. Stop by the Art Studios to play your favorite Art & Nature Center games and try others you may have missed in the past. Discover what these games reveal about nature and the connections between people and the environment. A $15, C 16 and under, free. 978-745-9500, pem.org.

Bright Nights. Forest Park, Springfield. Wed. to Sun., through December 6 and nightly, Dec. 9 through January 2.SaFor the holiday season, over 600,000 lights illuminate a two and a half mile drive-through tour through the magnificent displays including “Seuss Land,” a one-of-a-kind display approved by the estate of Dr. Seuss. $15 per vehicle; Fri. to Sun. and Holidays, $18 per vehicle. brightnights.org.

Children’s Tea with Santa at Gore Place. 52 Gore St., Waltham. Dec. 5, 12, and 19. 10:30 a.m. Children and their accompanying adults will be served a 3-tiered tea featuring a special children’s menu. Children will then participate in a holiday activity and everyone will enjoy a visit from Santa. Seating is communal at tables of 6 to 8 people. Admission for the Children’s Tea with Santa is $30 per person. Reserve early. $30 PP. Reservations required. 781-894-2798, goreplace.org.

FOR MOMS Exhibition: Bound by Fashion. Worcester Art Museum, Worcester. Through Dec. 31. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. What lengths will some people go to be fashionable? This exhibit examines 13 European paintings between the 16th and 20th century that feature the corset and investigates the psychological and physiological effects that it had on women. Thousands of women worked at the Royal Worcester Corset Company between 1861 and 1949, the largest corset manufacturer in the world, and the largest female employer in the country. A $20, C under 17, free. 508- 799-4406, worcesterart.org

FREE Film Showing - Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood. Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square. Tues., Dec. 8. 6 p.m. A riveting, eye-opening documentary that takes a powerful look at how corporations ruthlessly target children and the surprising impact of that marketing. This is a must-see film for every parent and anyone with children in their lives. 508-755-3645, worcnow@gmail.com, or commercialfreechildhood.org