Celebrate the season at the Saint Louis Art Museum on Dec. 9-11 at Winter Celebrations, a festival of free performances and art activities inspired by traditions from around the world.
The festival kicks off on Friday evening (Dec. 9) with music performances in the museum and the Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden, which will be lit by lanterns. The museum closes at 9 pm on Fridays, and the main exhibition—Conflicts of Interest: Art and War in Modern Japan—is free all day Friday.
Winter Celebrations continues on Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 10-11) with music and dance performances, as well as a screening of animated, family-friendly short films on Saturday and a special docent-led tour inspired on by the Rep’s production of A Christmas Carol on Sunday.
Visitors will be able to make their holiday decorations at a special Create Lab on all three days of the festival.
During Winter Celebrations, visitors will save 20 percent on the purchase of a museum memberships for themselves or for holiday gifts.
Highlights for Friday, Dec. 9
5 pm: Crossroads College Prep performs classical pop songs and contemporary hits (Sculpture Hall).
5 pm: Rhythm ‘n’ Ruach performs high-energy Hebrew and Jewish music (Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden).
5-8 pm: make a festive holiday decoration at the Create Lab (Grigg Gallery).
6 pm: Clayton High School performs musical hits, along with music from the folk, jazz, and classical traditions (Sculpture Hall).
6 pm: St. Louis Christmas Carols Association performs traditional favorites (Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden).
6:30 pm: Tree-lighting ceremony, sponsored by Ameren Missouri (Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden).
7 pm: Grupo México, with Gloria Hansen, performs traditional Mexican and Las Posadas holiday songs (Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden).
7-8:30 pm: Gateway Science Academy’s orchestra and band performs a special holiday concert (The Farrell Auditorium).
7:30 pm: Normandy High School’s band performs modern jazz and rhythm & blues (Sculpture Hall).
Highlights for Saturday, Dec. 10
Noon-4 pm: make a festive holiday decoration at the Create Lab (Grigg Gallery).
Noon-4 pm: Drop in for a whimsical lineup of animated, family-friendly short films from around the world (The Farrell Auditorium).
12:15 pm: Livety: Indigenous Dance performs traditional West African dance and drumming (Sculpture Hall).
1:15 pm: Dance Center of Kirkwood performs scenes from The Nutcracker (Sculpture Hall).
2:15 pm: Hispanic Festival, Inc. performs traditional dance and music from Latin America (Sculpture Hall).
3:15 pm: St. Louis Osuwa Taiko performs Japanese drumming (Sculpture Hall).
Highlights for Sunday, Dec. 11
Noon-4 pm: make a festive holiday decoration at the Create Lab (Grigg Gallery).
12:15 pm: Webster Groves High School A Cappella performs holiday favorites (Sculpture Hall).
1-2 pm: Afriky Lolo, with Diádié Bathily, performs West African dance and drumming (The Farrell Auditorium).
1-4 pm: decorate your own holiday cookies; all supplies provided (Education Center)
2-3 pm: Enjoy a docent-led tour in partnership with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’s production of A Christmas Carol (departs from Sculpture Hall).
2:15 pm: Center for Indian Cultural Education-Bal Vihar performs traditional Indian dance (Sculpture Hall).
3:15 pm: St. Louis Christmas Carols Association performs winter classics and traditional Christmas songs (Sculpture Hall).
