After being closed for 18 months to complete a major infrastructure replacement project, the historic Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn began welcoming visitors into the castle for “Christmas at Glencairn” on Friday, Nov. 24.
Events and activities include the annual World Nativities exhibition, Christmas in the Castle guided tours running daily through Sunday, Jan. 7, Homeschool Day Open House, a Christmas Concert, and a holiday-themed workshop. The Museum will be closed Dec. 11–12, 24–25, and Jan. 1.
“We are thrilled to be reopening the Museum for our World Nativities exhibition and other unique Christmas-themed events,” said Leah Smith, visitor experience manager. “We will be offering additional daily tours, when possible, between Dec. 26-31, to meet the demand for this extremely popular family holiday experience. We recommend that visitors check the website GlencairnMuseum.org, or call 267-502-2600 to inquire about extra availability or to reserve a tour.”
One of the highlights of this year’s World Nativities Exhibition is a meticulously crafted Nativity scene by husband-and-wife team Karen Loccisano and R. Michael Palan, and inspired by the art of the 16th-century Flemish artist Pieter Brueghel, featuring architecture, people, and animals in a snowy, 16th-century Flemish village.
Currently residing in New Jersey, Karen grew up in Bridgewater and Michael is from Northeast Philadelphia. Professionally, they have both worked for Highlights for Children magazine, designing Christmas ornaments for Kurt S. Adler, Inc. together, and this year had one of their works accepted in an exhibition at the Vatican (“Presepi in Vaticano”).
It’s one of only 100 Nativities selected from around the world (from 17 different countries). The Nativity they sent to the Vatican is a shippable shadowbox version of their full work, “American Nativity,” which was unveiled at Glencairn in 2020 and 2021.
A complete schedule of Christmas at Glencairn programs and activities can be found at https://www.glencairnmuseum.org/christmas-at-glencairn-2023.
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