Home for the Holidays: Free Thanksgiving Weekend

Come to the Albany Institute this Thanksgiving weekend for a variety of holiday themed programs and events. We'll be decked out in winter wonder and ready to welcome you and your out-of-town guests! Come explore our galleries, shop for handmade crafts by area artisans, enjoy community decorations and even live reindeer! Click link to learn more...

Come to the Albany Institute this Thanksgiving weekend for a variety of holiday themed programs and events. We'll be decked out in winter wonder and ready to welcome you and your out-of-town guests!

  • Shop for fun, old-fashioned toys, handmade ornaments, crafts and gifts by area artisans
  • Enjoy a variety of trees showcasing one-of-a-kind, artist-made ornaments, and trees decorated by contributions from the community
  • Browse our special sale of handmade ornaments in our Museum Shop
  • Sample Dutch cookies and treats available at the Museum Shop
  • Admire community-made quilt blocks from our Quilt Wall Hanging Challenge, created to celebrate our current exhibition, Undercover: Revealing Design in Quilts, Coverlets, and Bed Hangings
  • Explore our current exhibitions

This event is sponsored by Times Union.

Special activity schedule:

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28

  • Photographs with Saint Nicholas: 10AM-5PM
  • Live Reindeer on lawn near Washington Avenue: 12PM-4PM
  • Make Your Own Ornaments (Drop-in Art Making Session): 10AM-4:30PM
  • Gallery Talks: 1PM, 2PM, 3:30PM
  • Demonstrations by members of the New York Capital District Chapter of the Embroiderer's Guild of America: 10AM-4PM
  • Demonstrations by Mary Ann Hoffay of Mountain Weavers: 10AM-5PM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29

  • Make Your Own Ornaments (Drop-in Art Making Session): 10AM-4:30PM
  • Gallery Talks: 1PM, 2PM, 3:30PM
  • Photograph Opportunity in front of decorated mantels: 10AM-5PM
  • Demonstrations by members of the New York Capital District Chapter of the Embroiderer's Guild of America: 10AM-4PM
  • Demonstrations by Mary Ann Hoffay of Mountain Weavers: 10AM-5PM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30

  • Make Your Own Ornaments (Drop-in Art Making Session): Noon-4:30PM
  • Gallery Talks: 1PM, 3:30PM
  • Lecture & Book Signing by author Peter G. Rose for her new book Delicious December: How the Dutch Brought Us Santa, Presents, and Treats: 2PM
  • Dutch treats made by Dutch Desserts
  • Miniature Hooked Rug Demonstration by Judith Vincent: 1PM-4PM
  • Photograph Opportunity in front of decorated mantels: Noon-5PM

In addition, there will be lots of opportunities to shop! The museum is organizing a Children’s Holiday Toy Shop with a large selection of advent calendars, art and history toys and games, puzzles, puppets, stocking stuffers, artist holiday cards, and ornaments by artists from the region and from around the world. Home for the Holidays will also be a one-stop destination for all sorts of Dutch cookies and treats, such as Speculaas Dutch windmill cookies, Dutch chocolate gold-foil coins, Dutch chocolate shoes, Dutch chocolate Pastilles, traditional Wilhelmina peppermints, Katjesdrop (licorice cats), Muntdrop (licorice coins), Stroopwafels, as well as a wonderful selection of traditional blue and white Dutch ornaments, candles, and gifts.

Vendors that specialize in handmade products have been invited to display their items at Home for the Holidays. They include Kuhn Artworks, Brunhilde Miller Fine Art Quilts, Ken Miller Fine Art Woodworking, Erin Kaukas Designs, Grace & Caroline Designs, Christine Suruda Fabric Crafts, Sistah’s Vintage Aprons, Paper Pheasant, Glatsical Creations, MsLissaLaneous, Julie Andrea Creations, Viking Woodworking, and Mountain Weavers. Additional vendor lines will be available in the Museum Shop.

Home for the Holidays: Free Thanksgiving Weekend - Session 1

Albany Institute of History and Art (125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210)

Come to the Albany Institute this Thanksgiving weekend for a variety of holiday themed programs and events. We'll be decked out in winter wonder and ready to welcome you and your out-of-town guests! Come explore our galleries, shop for handmade crafts by area artisans, enjoy community decorations and even live reindeer! Click link to learn more...

Home for the Holidays: Free Thanksgiving Weekend - Session 2

Albany Institute of History and Art (125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210)

Come to the Albany Institute this Thanksgiving weekend for a variety of holiday themed programs and events. We'll be decked out in winter wonder and ready to welcome you and your out-of-town guests! Come explore our galleries, shop for handmade crafts by area artisans, enjoy community decorations and even live reindeer! Click link to learn more...

Home for the Holidays: Free Thanksgiving Weekend - Session 3

Albany Institute of History and Art (125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210)

Come to the Albany Institute this Thanksgiving weekend for a variety of holiday themed programs and events. We'll be decked out in winter wonder and ready to welcome you and your out-of-town guests! Come explore our galleries, shop for handmade crafts by area artisans, enjoy community decorations and even live reindeer! Click link to learn more...

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