Christmas at Glencairn Castle
After being closed for eighteen months to complete a major infrastructure replacement project, the historic Glencairn Museum will again welcome visitors into the castle for “Christmas at Glencairn” beginning Friday, November 24. Events and activities include the annual World Nativities exhibition, Christmas in the Castle guided tours running daily through Sunday, January 7, Homeschool Day Open House, a Christmas Concert, and a holiday-themed workshop. The Museum will be closed December 11–12, 24–25, and January 1.
“We are thrilled to be reopening the Museum for our World Nativities exhibition and other unique Christmas-themed events,” said Leah Smith, Visitor Experience Manager. “We will be offering additional daily tours, when possible, between December 26-31, to meet the demand for this extremely popular family holiday experience. We recommend that visitors check the website GlencairnMuseum.org, or call 267.502.2600 to inquire about extra availability or to reserve a tour.”
One of the highlights of this year’s World Nativities Exhibition is a meticulously crafted Nativity scene by husband-and-wife team Karen Loccisano and R. Michael Palan, and inspired by the art of the 16th-century Flemish artist Pieter Brueghel, featuring architecture, people, and animals in a snowy, 16th-century Flemish village.
Currently residing in New Jersey, Karen grew up in Bridgewater and Michael is from Northeast Philadelphia. Professionally, they have both worked for Highlights for Children magazine, designing Christmas ornaments for Kurt S. Adler, Inc. together, and this year had one of their works accepted in an exhibition at the Vatican (Presepi in Vaticano). It’s one of only 100 Nativities selected from around the world (from 17 different countries). The Nativity they sent to the Vatican is a shippable shadowbox version of their full work, “American Nativity,” which was unveiled at Glencairn in 2020 and 2021.
A complete schedule of Christmas at Glencairn programs and activities can be found at https://www.glencairnmuseum.org/christmas-at-glencairn-2023.
ABOUT GLENCAIRN MUSEUM
Glencairn Museum, a National Historic Landmark and part of the Bryn Athyn Historic District (including Cairnwood, built 1892-95, and Bryn Athyn Cathedral, 1913-19), houses a collection of religious art and artifacts from around the world and serves as a museum of the history of religion. Glencairn itself, built in the Romanesque style between 1928 and 1939 by Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn for their family’s home, was given to the Academy of the New Church in 1980 after Mildred Pitcairn’s death. A treasure open to the public, Glencairn Museum now offers tours of its tower and 6 floors depicting world religious history as well as a glimpse into the family’s personal life, visiting art and object exhibits, workshops, concerts, seasonal programs, and its popular annual “Christmas in the Castle” tour featuring outstanding examples of Nativity art. For more on the Museum or becoming a member: 267.502.2600, info@GlencairnMuseum.org or www.GlencairnMuseum.org.