Diane Smith & Children’s Crafts: Holiday Festival At Barnum Museum

BRIDGEPORT — On Saturday, December 11, from 1 to 3 pm, The Barnum Museum will delight visitors with the spirit of winter holiday celebrations around the world during the annual family Barnum Holiday Fest and Gingerbread Contest.

The event begins at 1 pm with a talk by Diane Smith, an Emmy-award winning television and radio journalist and author of the new book, A Connecticut Christmas. A book signing session will follow Ms Smith’s presentation.

From 1:30 to 3, children of all ages will be able to learn about the traditions associated with and create crafts representative of the winter holidays of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas and Las Posadas. Victorian Christmas décor will surround guests in the People’s United Bank Gallery as they warm their spirit with hot chocolate and cookies.

Guests will be able to wander among and examine David Millen’s creative, cirque themed sculpture exhibit, “Celebrating the Spirit of P.T. Barnum! Energy, Balance, Vitality.” The exhibition features nearly 20 of his metal and clay pieces which range in size from 40 inches tall to life size figures. This display will only be up through January 2.

Visitors also will be able to find fabulous Connecticut, Barnum and circus themed gifts in the shop.

Also during the festival, entries by children who have participated in the Third Annual Gingerbread Village Contest will be on view. The buildings have been designed and created by children ages 12 and under, and will remain on display as a collective village until January 12.

All afternoon, the New York Life Insurance Company will offer their popular, safe and secure child identification program at no charge. Parents will fill out a form for their children and will walk away with a one sheet print out and a number of wallet sized versions to use as needed with friends, family, babysitters and more.

The museum is at 820 Main Street in Bridgeport. Admission is $5, and $2 for ages 4-7. Children age 3 and under, museum members and Barnum Kids Club members are all admitted for free.

For more information visit www.barnum-museum.org or call 203-331-1104, extension 102.