Crocker Art Museum has full calendar for holiday break

Since 1885, the Crocker Art Museum has attracted the residents of Sacramento who want to spend time in the presence of art. The museum has kept its calendar full of activities for the period between Christmas and New Year’s, with schools and many workplaces on a holiday break.

Here’s a sampling.

“The Age of Albrecht Dürer”: Continuing through Feb. 14, this is the museum’s biggest fall/winter visiting exhibition and a feather in the cap of Sacramento, as this is the only U.S. stop for the works from the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris. Free with museum admission

Story trail: Introducing an art museum to the children? Wednesday, Dec. 30, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Pick up the storybook to get kids talking about art and the adventure they’ll find in the galleries. Free with admission

Highlight tour: Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 26-Dec. 27, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Get an introduction to the Crocker’s permanent collection, which spans genres from California painting to Oceanic carvings to Flemish drawings. Free with museum admission

Sketch it: Sunday, Dec. 27, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Anyone from age 5 and up can get instruction in drawing while they sketch in a gallery designated for the day – no experience in drawing necessary. The program is drop-in, and all supplies are provided. Free with museum admission

Free family festival: Dec. 31 10 a.m.-2 p.m. In what has become an annual tradition, the museum will usher out the old year and ring in the new with a high-energy New Year’s party for families, complete with a count down at noon and appearances by Father Time. The focus is global cultural experiences, with help from the Ohana Dance Group, bilingual magic with Germar the Magician, drumming with Afia Walking Tree and her 100 drums, bagpipes with the Sacramento Pipe Band, the Samoan All Family Boys acapella group, Ebo Okokan Afro-Cuban dance and music, Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band. Free for everyone, free admission through 5 p.m. museum closing.

Janet Vitt

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Crocker Art Museum has full calendar for holiday break."