Santa Claus is Coming to the Carter!

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter

December is, of course, Santa’s busiest time of the year. Can you imagine the logistics of running the North Pole? Just making sure that the elves have enough supplies to make toys is overwhelming. However, on Saturday, December 7, Santa and Mrs. Claus are taking time out of their busy schedules to come to the Amon Carter Museum for Merry Members, an exclusive event for Carter Family members! This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, befitting the newly renovated museum.

The Carter reopened on September 14 after a year-long renovation which necessitated a three-month closure. The renovation improved the layout of the galleries, incorporating the latest technology to enhance the visitor’s experience. LED lighting helps to preserve the collection, a modular wall system allows for ease of reconfiguring spaces to enhance new exhibitions, and digital interactive artwork turns people from art viewers to art creators. If you haven’t been to the Carter recently, Merry Members is the perfect time to come!

Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter

The fun starts at 1 pm, and there are all sorts of winter-themed activities designed to engage big kids and small. You and your children can make a snowflake garland, perfect for decorating a tree, a front door, or a staircase. There will be a new winter Gallery Guide that premiers during the Merry Member event, as well as family tours of the new gallery spaces aimed to engage all ages. The Art Carts will be out to provide hands-on fun in the galleries.

Madeleine Fitzgerald, the Carter’s Manager of Public Programs, says this year’s Merry Members will be an even bigger bash than in years past. She says, “It’s really important to us that people have fun. Museums aren’t boring! They’re a whole experience, and Merry Members is a way for us to celebrate that!”

At 2 pm, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the museum in a shiny red SUV. (When I asked where the reindeer were, I was told that they’re in training for their big night, so Santa gave them the day off.) Mrs. Claus will read “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” while Santa will be available for pictures in the original part of the museum, which gives a wonderful midcentury modern backdrop to the pictures. The line is never long, so Santa has time to engage with all the kids, big and small!

Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter

There will be a milk and cookies bar, stocked with regular, chocolate, and strawberry milk, and kids can write their letter Santa and mail it in Santa’s mailbox. The Family Pop-up Space will be open for those family memberships and upper level members.

What if you aren’t a Carter Family member? Mary Lynn Sloane, the Carter’s Membership Manager, says don’t fret. She’ll be on hand to sign you up as a Family member, or you can join now by clicking here. Once you select your membership level, be sure to check the Carter Family add-on option to join the fun!

Both Mary Lynn and Madeleine told me that there is another Carter Family member event coming in June to kick off summer. See? Membership really does have its privileges!

Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter

Merry Members!

Saturday, December 7

1 pm to 5 pm

To become a Carter Family member, and to RSVP, call 817.989.5060