BETTENDORF, IOWA (November 21, 2019) — The Family Museum will continue its tradition of seasonal, family-friendly activities with WinterFest on Sunday, December 8, 12-5PM. Back by popular demand, guests will meet a real reindeer and visit with Santa and Mrs Claus! Visitors are invited to make a variety of holiday crafts and enjoy performances by the Family Museum Dance Company and other local musical groups. Admission to this event and the Family Museum’s hands-on gallery is free with the donation of a non-perishable food item or monetary donation to the River Bend Foodbank. This event is sponsored by US Cellular —Wireless Central. The reindeer is sponsored by Northwest Bank and Trust Company.
Activities
Live Reindeer One of Santa’s reindeer is making a visit to the Family Museum — don’t miss seeing this furry friend.
Photos with Santa Visit with Santa and Mrs Claus. Parents, don’t forget to bring your phone or camera to capture the perfect picture!
Snowman Gift Boxes Build a snowman that won’t melt — complete with buttons and a scarf — that doubles as a festive holiday gift box.
Letters to the North Pole Write a letter to Santa, stick it in our holiday mailbox, and send it to the North Pole! Stick around to pick up unique toys and stocking stuffers at the Fox and Bee shop.
Arctic Family Photo Station Grab a pair of polar bear ears and snap a photo as a family.
Jolly! Hands-On! SCIENCE! See if you can become a present-stacking engineer and make twinkle lights glow!
North Pole Scenes Craft a miniature North Pole landscape, complete with snow, a festive tree, the famous red-striped pole, and more!
Holiday Gnome Hunt Oh gnome they didn’t! Some silly bearded friends have made their home in Fox Hollow…can you find them all?
Snowman Ornaments make your own Frosty friend to decorate your tree.
Arctic Ice Block Excavations Use science to chip away at a chilly block and free a penguin or polar bear friend to take home!
Performances
Quad City Symphony Youth Choir (1:00–1:30PM)
Family Museum Dance Company performing A Nutcracker “Sweet” (1:30 and 3:00)
Bettendorf High School Choir (2:00–3:00)
RiverBend Bronze Bell Choir Quintet (3:30–4:30)
Displays
A huge, 300 square foot train set will be set up again this year, and the Great Hall will be decorated with lights, stars, trees, and animal displays. The centerpiece window dressing is the last set of animated figurines from the Petersen Harden Von Maur store in Davenport. Created by the (George) Silvestri Art Manufacturing Company, this Santa’s House scene includes a Living Room with a decorated tree and fireplace, a Kitchen with a very busy stove, a Workshop where elves are busy making toy trains, and a snowball battle in the woods among the elves who are gathering firewood. The display was built in Chicago during October of 1966, and was donated to the Family Museum in 1990 when the store was sold.
The Family Museum is located at 2900 Learning Campus Drive. For more information, please call (563) 344-4106 or visit www.familymuseum.org.
