SIGHTSEERS
Holiday Happenings at The Henry Ford
by Randy Karr

Who knew learning could be this much fun?

America’s greatest history attraction welcomes merrymakers to America's greatest holiday celebration, now taking place at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.

A focal point of the Henry Ford Museum holiday celebration is the museum’s newest exhibit, LEGO® Castle Adventure, which runs through January 3, 2010. On the first three Saturdays in December, visitors can to learn how to build LEGO creations in classes that are offered every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Afterwards, the Michigan LEGO Users Group will enchant visitors by building astonishing LEGO creations right before their eyes.

LEGO® Castle Adventure begins when visitors cross a medieval drawbridge and enter the whimsical world of LEGO. A sword-wheeling knight holding a shield stands guard beyond the entrance. Nearby is an area for apprentice builders, ages four and under, where they can build their own LEGO creations using large versions of LEGO bricks.

Other medieval highlights include a play area where aspiring knights can take part in a jousting match, and an area where they can test the strength of a castle’s fortified wall by firing a virtual rock from a virtual catapult. There is also an area where they can build their own castle and design their own castle grounds.

Several LEGO creations being exhibited are built by Master LEGO Builders. These include Sussex England’s Arundel Castle, a medieval hilltop LEGO fortress, Ireland’s Blarney Castle, with cutaways showing the castle’s kitchen, chapel and interior rooms, a suit of armor that is one of the two largest LEGO brick models in this exhibit, and a maze modeled after one at England’s Leeds Castle.

The museum’s holiday happenings continue at the IMAX 3D theater with the showing of Disney's latest holiday movie, A Christmas Carol. In this version of Charles Dickens’ classic story, actor Jim Carrey portrays four separate roles - Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas’ Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come. Other holiday highlights are a giant Christmas tree decked with American-made ornaments, a new LEGO train display, a mailbox built out of LEGO bricks where letters to Santa can be dropped off, and, of course, visits with Santa.

Outside, seasonal celebrations continue with Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village. This holiday happening takes place on December 4-5, 11-12, 18-23, and 26-27, from 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. It features candle-lit paths around the village, strolling costumed presenters, visits with Santa and his live reindeer at the Robert Frost House and a spectacular fireworks and sing-along grand finale.

Nonstop entertainment on four outdoor performance stages includes acts by the Christie Street Carolers, Main Street Carolers, Greenfield Carolers, Dodworth Saxhorn Band, Festival Singers, Neil Woodward, Picks & Sticks Stringband, Ranka Mulkern, Livonia Civic Chorus and the 1st Michigan Colonial Fife & Drum Corps.

But, wait, there’s still more.

During a self-guided Holiday Homes Tour, participants will learn something about American holiday customs, while observing decorating and cooking demonstrations and experiencing firsthand the sights, sounds, smells and traditions of the season. Afterwards, they can enjoy an authentic holiday meal served by costumed presenters in the Village’s Eagle Tavern. Enhancing this dining feast is seasonal décor and live period music.

Another dining event, perfect for families, begins with a horse-drawn wagon ride to A Taste of History Restaurant and a cafeteria-style holiday turkey dinner. Diners will make a festive table decoration and Santa Claus will be on hand to personally visit each table.

For ticket pricing and information on these events, go to www.thehenryford.com

©2009 Randy Karr