Saturday, November 24, 2012

EXAMINER.COM ARTICLE - Museum Launches Holiday Programs With Tree Lighting, Craig Morgan Performance


Craigh Morgan will help the Country Music Hall of Fame ignite its 2012 holiday programming on Nov. 23, 2012, with a performance.

Black Friday is the official kick off to Christmas for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, whose reps have a full slate of "Deck the Hall" activities and programming in store for visitors.

On Friday, Nov. 23, the museum will launch its holiday festivities, with the lighting of the museum’s Christmas tree. Plus, country star and award-winning TV-host Craig Morgan will also be on hand to lead the merriment and perform.

The museum will also feature Christmas-themed performances from Brazilbilly (Dec. 1), Rosie Flores (Dec. 15) and David Ball (Dec. 22). Moreover, family activities will be plentiful in the weeks ahead, including photos with Santa Claus on Nov. 24, Dec. 1, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15; and holiday cookie decorating, presented by Two Twenty-Two Grill & Catering staff, on Dec. 1. 

On Dec. 15, Hatch Show Print staff will offer one of the museum’s most popular family programs, "Make Letterpress Art with Hatch Show Print." Young people aged five to 18 will be able to design their own holiday cards using wood blocks from the Hatch archive.

According to information from museum officials, many programs are free; others are included with museum admission and free to museum members. More details and a comprehensive list of all museum holiday-themed programs and events are below.

Friday, November 23

Tree Lighting, performance and CD signing with Craig Morgan at 4 p.m. Join Morgan for the museum’s tree lighting festivities and a free performance, followed by a signing of his CD, "This Ole Boy."

Saturday, November 24

Photos with Santa Claus at 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Children are invited to share their Christmas lists with Santa and pose for a photo. Free.
(Note: Timed passes are available in 15-minute increments. Pass pick-up begins at 9 a.m. that morning.Museum members may reserve their passes in advance.For more information about this and other benefits of museum membership, please access this link.

Sunday, Nov. 25

Film Screening: "Purina Grand Ole Opry: Christmas Show" (1955) at 2 p.m.

Grand Ole Opry friends and family gather to sing and laugh around the Christmas tree in this television show shot at the Ryman Auditorium. Eddy Arnold, Little Jimmy Dickens, Anita Kerr, Minnie Pearl, Carl Smith and many others make appearances. Free.

Saturday, Dec. 1

Holiday Cookie Decorating with Two Twenty-Two Grill & Catering at 10 a.m.
Children and adults of all ages are invited to decorate holiday cookies with guidance from Two Twenty-Two Grill & Catering staff. Free.

Photos with Santa Claus at 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Children are invited to share their Christmas lists with Santa and pose for a photo. Free.

Concert: "Honky-Tonk Holiday with Brazilbilly" at 2 p.m.

Brazilbilly has been the house band at Robert’s Western World on Lower Broadway for more than a decade. Fronted by Jesse Lee Jones, the band continues the tradition of performing the raucous, danceable country music made popular in honky-tonk bars in the 1950s and 1960s.

In this family-friendly concert, the band will perform classic country Christmas songs as well as favorites from their extensive barroom repertoire. Included with museum admission and free to museum members. Limited seating. Program pass required.

Sunday, Dec. 2

Film Screening: "National Life Grand Ole Opry" (1968) and "Bill Anderson’s Country Christmas" (1968) at 2 p.m.

This full-color, televised episode of the "National Life Grand Ole Opry" features lots of sparkle and twang with performances by Archie Campbell, Grandpa Jones, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, Dottie West and others. 29 minutes. Then join Bill Anderson in a musical Christmas party with his friends Lynn Anderson, Don Bowman, Jim Ed Brown, Jan Howard and others. Fifty-two minutes; free.

Friday, Dec. 7

WSM-AM’s "Coffee, Country, Cody and Christmas" at 7-10 a.m.
Visitors are invited to attend a special breakfast and live performances for just $6.50, as Bill Cody broadcasts live from the museum’s Curb Conservatory. Guest artists include David Ball, Donna Ulisse & the Poor Mountain Boys and others. Tickets are available at countrymusichalloffame.org or at the door that morning.

Saturday, Dec. 8

Photos with Santa Claus at 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Children are invited to share their Christmas lists with Santa and pose for a photo. Free.

Family Program: Embellished Instruments at 12:30 p.m.
Create your own custom miniature instrument inspired by the artifacts in the museum. Choose a wooden cutout of a banjo, guitar, mandolin or upright bass; decorate it with color, rhinestones and glitter; then turn it into a magnet, key chain or holiday ornament. Free.

Sunday, Dec. 9

Film Screening: "A Country Christmas" (1978) at 2 p.m.
This made-for-TV Christmas special is hosted by Minnie Pearl and features performances by Lynn Anderson, Roy Clark, Loretta Lynn, the Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and others. Sixty minutes; free.

Saturday, Dec.15

Photos with Santa Claus at 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 
Children are invited to share their Christmas lists with Santa and pose for a photo. Free..

Family Program: "Make Letterpress Art with Hatch Show Print" at 11 a.m.
Learn about letterpress printing from the staff of Hatch Show Print, one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in the U.S. Use block images to make your own holiday card or T-shirt. Paper provided. Participants should bring their own T-shirts. For ages 5 to 18. Free.

Concert: "Rosie Flores in Christmasville" at 2 p.m.
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Rosie Flores will play songs from her catalog as well as holiday tunes from her "Christmasville" album. This program is included with museum admission and free for museum members. Limited seating; program pass required.

Sunday, Dec. 16

Film Screening: "A Statler Christmas Present" (1985) at 2 p.m.
The Statler Brothers host a Christmas special full of music, humor and stories of their Christmas memories. Special guests include Gene Autry, Crystal Gayle, Merle Haggard and Roger Miller. Fifty minutes; free.

Saturday, Dec. 22

Songwriter Session: David Ball at 11:30 a.m.
David Ball has recorded seven studio albums, including his platinum debut, "Thinkin’ Problem." Artists who have recorded Ball’s songs include Diamond Rio, Lyle Lovett, Ronnie Milsap and others.

Ball will perform songs from his catalog as well as a selection of holiday tunes.This program is included with museum admission and free for museum members. Limited seating; program pass required.

Sunday, Dec. 23

Film Screening: "Marty’s Christmas Party" (1996) at 2 p.m.
Marty Stuart hosted several specials on TNN in the 1990s. His Christmas edition of the Marty Party includes performances by Stuart, as well as BR5-49, Little Jimmy Dickens, Joe Diffie, Willie Nelson and Connie Smith. Forty-five minutes; free.

Sunday, Dec. 30

Film Screening: "The Heaven and Earth Show: Dolly Parton New Year Special" (2001) at 2 p.m. This is an episode of the BBC television series focusing on spiritual and moral issues. Host Ross Kelly shows British viewers around Nashville and interviews Parton about the influence of religion and spirituality in her life.

The film includes vintage musical performances spanning Parton’s career. Several scenes are filmed in and around the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Chely Wright also performs. Sixty minutes; free.

Admission info: Visitors who present a Tennessee driver’s license or Tennessee college ID Nov. 23–Dec. 31 will receive $5 off of the purchase of an adult general admission ticket.

All holiday-themed programs are included with museum admission and free to museum members except as noted. A complete schedule of "Deck the Hall" activities can be found here.

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