State Museum to kick off holiday tradition

COLUMBIA -- It’s the “most wonderful time of the year” as the South Carolina State Museum’s holiday tradition, Winter Fest, kicks off Saturday, Dec. 19. This celebration of the winter season runs for two weeks until Sunday, Jan. 4 and will feature many highlights and crowd pleasers.

“On Dec.19 at noon, guests will enjoy musical selections from Tchaikovsky’s immortal Nutcracker Suite by the Lake Murray Chamber Players (LMCP),” said Director of Education and Programs Meika Samuel. LMCP is a part of the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra. Composed of volunteer musicians from the Midlands area, the LMCP serves as an outreach arm of the larger orchestra, bringing music to the greater Columbia area in venues such as parks, festivals, churches, nursing homes and museums.

“The program will consist of favorite selections from The Nutcracker Suite such ‘Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy,’ ‘Waltz of the Flowers,’ ‘Arabian Dance,’ ‘Chinese Dance,’ and ‘Trekak,’ said Samuel. “Rounding out the program are movements from Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major, featuring Tony Roebuck on trumpet.”

Museum guests can catch a glimpse of how other cultures celebrate their winter holidays on Sunday, Dec. 20 and Tuesday, Dec. 22. Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, will be represented by dancers from the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of S. C. on Sunday, Dec. 20, at 1:30 p.m.

Laney Cohen from Tree of Life Congregation will guide guests through the origins and traditions of Chanukah at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22. “Also on that day at noon, Natalie Williams and her granddaughter Taylor Leaphart offer drumming, dancing and rituals of the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa,” Samuel said. Following at 12:30 p.m., the Chinese Association of Columbia will present traditional lion and dragon dances celebrating Chinese New Year.

“In addition to live performers and presentations, seasonal movies will be shown every day at 2 p.m. during Winter Fest, but a special treat awaits on Wednesday, Dec. 23, Saturday, Dec. 26 and Thursday, Dec. 31,” said Samuel. “On these days, families can enjoy two showings of the popular hit movie ‘Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs’ at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Catch up with your favorite ‘Ice Age’ characters as Sid the Sloth becomes an unlikely ‘mother’ to three lost dinosaur eggs, leading to a fantastical adventure in an underground world.” The movie is free with regular museum admission or membership.

Learn about the winter sky as the Museum presents seasonal Star Labs during Winter Fest. These 30- minute portable planetarium shows ($3 per person) focus on seasons, constellations and moon phases. Star Labs will be presented on Dec. 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31; Jan. 2 and 3.

“The State Museum always has programs and exhibits to give people a variety of reasons to visit. Now, Winter Fest gives families and individuals even more reasons to come during the holidays,” said Samuel.

Unless otherwise noted, events are free with membership or admission. Winter Fest continues through Sunday, Jan. 3. For more information and a full schedule of events, call (803) 898-4952 or visit www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org.