As early as 1941, the Museum of Science and Industry (M.S.I.) had a physics demonstration called “The Science Behind Santa,” but the M.S.I. began hanging flags and celebrating Christmas Around the World during the Second Great World War in support of the United Nations (then an alliance against the Axis Powers) in 1942. The M.S.I. added an ancillary exhibit, Holidays of Light, bringing attention to Chinese New Year, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Saint Lucia Day, and Shogatsu in 1994. Erin Okamoto Protsman wrote two books about Christmas Around the World: Season of Celebrating: A Cookbook From the Museum of Science and Industry’s “Christmas Around the World” and “Holidays of Light” Festivals, published by the M.S.I. in 1997 and Traditions: A Guidebook from the Museum of Science and Industry’s “Christmas Around the World” and “Holidays of Light” Festivals, published by Favorite Recipes Press in 1999.
All cultural performances are held on the Holiday Stage in the Auditorium in the West Pavilion. The schedule is subject to change. Christmas tree ornament-making also takes place in the West Pavilion. Check at the Information Desk in Rosenwald Court (North Court) on the Main Floor of the Central Pavilion for an up-to-date schedule.
The Holiday Café will be open in the West Pavilion from Saturday, November 17, 2018 through Sunday, December 23, 2018. It serves hot beverages and “holiday treats.”
Figure 1 Credit: Seán M. O’Connor Caption: This is how the Grand Tree and standard-sized Christmas trees in the Grand Rotunda looked immediately after the opening ceremony for Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light on Thursday, November 15, 2018.
Figure 2 Credit: Seán M. O’Connor Caption: This is how the Grand Tree and standard-sized Christmas trees in the Grand Rotunda looked from the Rosenwald Court (North Court) balcony shortly after the opening ceremony for Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light on Thursday, November 15, 2018.
Figure 3 Credit: Museum of Science and Industry Caption: This is the front cover of the 2018 Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light Exhibit Guide.
Figure 4 Credit: Museum of Science and Industry Caption: This “Tree Map” is a partial floorplan of the Museum of Science and Industry’s Main Floor in the Central Pavilion that shows the layout of Christmas trees and displays boxes for Christmas Around the World and display boxes for Holidays of Light in the Grand Rotunda, Transportation Gallery in Grainger Court (East Court), Rosenwald Court (North Court), and Farrell Family Court (South Court).
Saturday, November 17, 2018
|
Time |
Event |
|
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
Ornament Making |
|
11:00 a.m. |
Philippine American Culture Foundation Performing Arts (Philippines) |
|
12:15 p.m. |
Little OL Korea and Choom-Sa-Rang (Korea) |
| 1:30 p.m. |
Pachacamak Folk Foundation (Andean Afro-Ecuadorian) |
| 2:45 p.m. |
The Chicago Cuatro Orchestra (Puerto Rico) |
| 4:00 p.m. |
Flamenco Chicago Dance Studio (Spain) |
Sunday, November 18, 2018
|
Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 a.m. | Punch and Judaism (Hannukah)[1] |
| 12:15 p.m. | Chicago Donauschwaben (Germany) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Jasmin Jahal Dance Company (Middle Eastern) |
| 2:45 p.m. | Punch and Judaism (Hannukah) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Indian Catholic Association of America (India) |
Saturday, November 24, 2018
| Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 a.m. | Moravian Cultural Society (Czech Republic) |
| 12:15 p.m. | Nordikids (Sweden) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Tsukasa Taiko Drummers (Japan) |
| 2:45 p.m. | Zespol Jawory (Poland) |
Sunday, November 25, 2018
| Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 a.m. | Whispers Center for Artistic Expressions (Poland) |
| 12:15 p.m. | Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (Philippines) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Renacer Boliviano Dance Troupe (Bolivia) |
| 2:45 p.m. | Ensemble Horo (Bulgaria) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Ballet Folkórico Fiesta Mexicana (Mexico) |
Saturday, December 1, 2018
| Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 p.m. | Kupa’s Pacific Island Resource (South Pacific Islands) |
| 12:15 p.m. | After School Matters Latin and Spanish Dance (Latin America) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Norwegian National League of Chicago (Norway) |
| 2:45 p.m. | Team Kenya (Kenya) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago (Greece) |
Sunday, December 2, 2018
| Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 a.m. | Bonnie Lindholm School of the Dance (America) |
| 12:15 p.m. | Austrian Mixed Chorus (Austria) |
| 1:30 p.m. | One Pointe Performing Arts Center (Mexico) |
| 2:45 p.m. | Mangalorean Konkan Christian Association (India) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Suktinis Lithuanian Dancers (Lithuania) |
Saturday, December 8, 2018
| Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 a.m. | Thistle and Heather Highland Dancers (Scotland) |
| 12:15 p.m. | Ensemble Alioni (Republic of Georgia not to be confused with the American State of Georgia) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Springbrook Pops Orchestra and Chrous (U.S.A.) |
| 2:45 p.m. | Campanella Children’s Choir (Russia) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Hungarian Scouts (Hungary) |
Sunday, December, 9, 2018
| Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 a.m. | John C. Haines School (China) |
| 12:15 p.m. | Taki Sumak (Ecuador) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Iskra School of Ukrainian Dance and Cherubic Voices Children’s Choir (Ukraine) |
| 2:45 p.m. | Donya Dance Ensemble (middle Eastern/World dance) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society (Greece) |
Saturday, December 15, 2018
| Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 a.m. | Finnladies of Chicagoland (Finland) |
| 12:15 p.m. | IHM Children’s Choir and Marimba Ensemble (Mexico and Central America) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Colombian American Cultural Center (Colombia) |
| 2:45 p.m. | McNulty Irish Dancers (Ireland) |
| 4:00 p.m. | St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church (Egypt) |
Sunday, December 16, 2018
| Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 a.m. | Tierra Colombian Dance Ensemble (Colombia) |
| 12:15 p.m. | Polish Scouting Organization of Illinois (Poland) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Welsh Cambrian Benevolent Society presents the Red Dragon Welsh Dancers and Old Fezziwig’s Band (Wales) |
| 2:45 p.m. | Cathedral Filipino Singers and Friends (Philippines) |
| 4:00 p.m. | RSCO Scottish Chicago Branch Team (Scotland) |
Saturday, December 22, 2018
| Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 a.m. | Bonilla Foundation (Puerto Rico) |
| 12:15 p.m. | Alma Ecuatoriana (Ecuador) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Ballet Folklórico Internacional Tuwamari (Ecuador) |
| 2:45 p.m. | Holy Nativity (Romania) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Enemble Hora (Romania) |
Sunday, December 23, 2018
| Time |
Event |
| 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Ornament Making |
| 11:00 a.m. | Mama Sunshine (Kwanza) |
| 12:15 p.m. | Mama Sunshine (Kwanza) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Color Wong, Traditional Chinese Dancing (China) |
| 2:45 p.m. | Serbian Orthodox Midwest Diocese (Serbia) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Croatian School, Cardinal Stepinac (Croatia) |
HOURS
On Tuesday, September 4, 2018, the M.S.I. reverted to regular hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). On the weekend of Saturday, November 17, 2018 and Sunday, November 18, 2018, the M.S.I. will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The M.S.I. will be closed on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 22, 2018) and the First Day of Christmas (Tuesday, December 25, 2018). Extended hours (9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) will be in play again from Friday, November 23, 2018 to Sunday, November 25, 2018; Saturday, December 1, 2018 and Sunday, December 2, 2018; Saturday, December 8, 2018 and Sunday, December 9, 2018; Saturday, December 15, 2018 and Sunday, December 2016; Sunday, December 23, 2018; and Wednesday, December 26, 2018 through Sunday, December 30, 2018. There will be longer hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 22, 2018. On Christmas Eve (Monday, December 24, 2018) and New Year’s Eve (Monday, December 31, 2018), the M.S.I. will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On New Year’s Day (Tuesday, January 1, 2019), the M.S.I. will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. From Wednesday, January 2, 2019 through Friday, January 4, 2019, the M.S.I. will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Regular hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) will resume on Saturday, January 5, 2019. The Museum of Science and Industry regularly makes small adjustments to this schedule, so when planning a trip there, check this Webpage and the M.S.I.’s social media for updates.
EXTENDED HOURS AND EXCEPTIONS
|
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Sunday, November 18, 2018 |
| Closed |
Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 22, 2018) |
|
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
Friday, November 23, 2018
Saturday, November 24, 2018 Sunday, November 25, 2018 |
| 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
Saturday, December 1, 2018 Sunday, December 2, 2018 |
|
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Sunday, December 9, 2018 |
| 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
Saturday, December 15, 2018 Sunday, December 16, 2018 |
|
9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
|
Saturday, December 22, 2018
|
| 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
Sunday, December 23, 2018 |
|
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Christmas Eve
(Monday, December 24, 2018) |
| Closed |
Christmas Day (Tuesday, December 25, 2018) |
|
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Thursday, December 27, 2018 Friday, December 28, 2018 Saturday, December 29, 2018 Sunday, December 30, 2018 |
| 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
New Year’s Eve (Monday, December 31, 2018) |
|
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
New Year’s Day
(Tuesday, January 1, 2019) |
| 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
Wednesday, January 2, 2019 Thursday, January 3, 2019 Friday, January 4, 2019 |
Often stylized as the “Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago” or the “Museum of Science + Industry” the institution is located at the northern end of the Chicago Park District’s Jackson Park, on the south side of 57th Street, between Lake Shore Drive to the east and Cornell Drive to the west, in the East Hyde Park neighborhood of the Hyde Park Community Area (Community Area #41) on the South Side of Chicago. The address is 5700 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60637. The M.S.I. is open every day of the year with two exceptions: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On most days, it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but during peak periods it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Website is https://www.msichicago.org/ and the phone number is (773) 684-1414.
[1] This name is a pun. Punch and Judy is a traditional puppet show in the U.K.
In the Garden City 
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