Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light at Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry’s 69th annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light will delight your senses and fill you with the holiday spirit as you walk among the museum’s 50+ trees all beautifully decorated for the holiday season and enjoy musical and dance performances by many of Chicago’s talented singers and dancers.

The Museum’s 45-foot Grand Tree takes center stage in the Rotunda with more than 30,000 lights and 1,000 ornaments while.  Enjoy intermittent falling “snow” while strolling through the more than 50 smaller trees surrounding the Grand Tree, each beautifully decorated by volunteers from Chicago’s ethnic communities to represent their various cultures and holiday traditions.

In conjunction with the tree exhibit, performances include school choral groups during the week and ethnic song and dance performances on the weekends. 

The museum’s Grand Tree and Rotunda will be decked out in colorful puppet splendor in honor of the museum’s special temporary exhibit, Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, an exhibit exploring the amazing career and imagination of the master puppeteer and creator of the Muppets.

2010 Performance Schedule

All performances take place in the Holiday Stage area off the Museum's Grainger Court, Main Level.  (Please note that the schedule is subject to change; check the schedule at the Holiday Stage for up-to-date information.)

Saturday, Dec. 11
11 a.m. — Filipino American Dance Arts of Chicago (Philippines)
12:15 p.m. — Classic Act Choral Ensemble (USA)
1:30 p.m. — Thistle and Heather Highland Dancers (Scotland)
2:45 p.m. — Chicagoland Festival Chorus (Springbrook Community Church)
4 p.m. — Colombian American Cultural Center Choir (Colombia)

Sunday, Dec. 12
12:15 p.m. — Tierra Colombiana Folkloric Dance Company (Colombia)
1:30 p.m. — Iskra School of Ukrainian Dance; Cherubic Voices, Ukrainian Children’s Choir (Ukraine)
2:45 p.m. — Mangalorean Konkan Christian Association, USA (India)
4 p.m. — Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society (Greece)

Saturday, Dec. 18
11 a.m. — Ke Kula Kupa’a O Ka Pakipika, Kupa’s School of the Pacific (South Pacific Islands)
12:15 p.m. — Society of Danube Swabians (Germany)
1:30 p.m. — Alioni Georgian Choir of Chicago (Republic of Georgia)
2:45 p.m. — Acapellago
4 p.m. — Belizean Cultural Bearers (Belize)

Sunday, Dec. 19
12:15 p.m. — JCCIA Italianettes (Italy)
1:30 p.m. — Children’s Choir, “Campanella” (Russia)
2:45 p.m. — Polish Scouting Organization of Illinois, “Harcerstwo” (Poland)
4 p.m. — Greek Consulate (Greece)

Monday, Dec. 20
12:00 p.m. — Motte Choir (University of Chicago)
2:45 p.m. — Harvard High School Madrigals

Tuesday, Dec. 21
1:30 p.m. — Fujima Ryu of Chicago (Japan)

Wednesday, Dec. 22
12:15 p.m. — Varblomman Children’s Club (Sweden)
2:45 p.m. — Holy Cross IHM Marimba Ensemble and Children’s Choir (Central America)

Sunday, Dec. 26
12:15 a.m. — Cardinal Stepinac Croatian School (Croatia)
1:30 p.m. — “Figle” (Poland)
2:45 p.m. — “Morita” (Romania)
4 p.m. — Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral (Serbia)

Wednesday, Dec. 29
11:00 a.m. — Mamma Sunshine (Kwanzaa)
1:30 p.m. — The McNulty Irish Dancers (Ireland)
2:45 p.m. — Rondalla Fenix (Puerto Rico)

Christmas Around the World and all related performances are included in the museum’s general admission and will continue through January 9.
The Museum of Science and Industry is located at 57^th Street and Lake Shore Drive.  Click here for driving, parking, and public transportation information.  You can purchase tickets online.