VERO BEACH — Through marble halls and galleries trod for most of the year by a rather more serious and a bit older crowd, the sounds of children’s eager voices and Christmas melodies rose Sunday afternoon. It was the annual Holidays at the Museum, offered free of charge by the Vero Beach Museum of Art, to all Treasure Coast families as “a gift of gratitude from the Museum’s trustees, staff and Friends of the Vero Beach Museum volunteers.”
Formerly known as Christmas at the Museum, the seasonal celebration has been a family favorite from its very first presentation, back in the 1980s, when the Vero Beach Museum of Art was a new and exciting cultural addition to the community.
Event Chair this year was Jackie Farrell, who, looking both holiday festive and tres Parisienne in red and white, exclaimed, “This is absolutely my favorite season! I just love it!”
On this perfect winter afternoon, children, moms and dads, grandparents, great-grandparents walked past the grand lion at the Museum’s entrance, (his ferocity softened by the slender candy canes rising from the hedges) and up the broad stairs toward the doorman, a gentleman elf, also known as John Cusick. Once inside, red and green-antlered volunteers welcomed, provided direction and offered snacks.
Performances were presented by: Lozada School of Music students; Indian River Charter High School VAPA Dancers; Osceola Magnet School Singers; Riverside Children’s Theatre’s Star Troupe, and Beachland Elementary’s Shark Singers.
On their very first visit, Craig and Krista Keathley pushed strollers containing daughters Melina and Carrie, 15 months, and their big brother, Devon.
Sporting a stylish blonde Mohawk, Tyler Davis, 31/2, headed toward the Christmas card-making area with his great-grandma, Flo Robillard.
The eager crowd flowed past pianist Maryanne Bohlinger playing “Here Comes Santa Clause,” and into the, high-ceilinged atrium, a spacious classically designed area of great elegance and versatility. At the far end, attended on either side by a line of smiling stuffed snow people, sat Santa himself, in all his red-velveted, black-booted glory, knees at the ready.
The bouncy but well-behaved line extended along the entire wall as each child shared his/her Christmas wish, and parents crouched in front, cameras clicking to capture that perfect Christmas memory.
Lynden Bartholomew, dainty in a white and flowery dress, was sharing the day with mom and dad, Lynne and Dennis Bartholomew. She said that she had asked Santa for Nerf guns, a Disney Davey Crockett rifle and “an American Girl doll – Samantha. I didn’t ask for Caroline also,” she added earnestly, “because I think it would be too much.”
Siblings Sarah Jones, 6, and Breezie Jones, 5, were stylish and festive in crisp black and white. Looking like a young English Lord, in black velvet cap and coat, little brother Thomas Jones, 3, waited, mostly patiently, for his turn with Santa.
While Daddy Ralph Perez snapped pix of plump and dozy 5-month-old son Nicholas, snuggled in his stroller, sister Isabella, 3, performed with her classmates in the auditorium.
Exiting after a successful Santa visit, Chandon Vorkapich, 5, and sister Palmer, 3, discussed the adventure while mom, Kathryn, noted, “This is their third year here. They’re getting braver and braver each year.”
In addition to the children-specific events, the Museum galleries were open free of charge for all to enjoy the current exhibitions: NORMAN ROCKWELL: Behind the Camera, POP ART REVISITED: A 21st Century Perspective, LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS OF ADAM STRAUS, along with works from the permanent collection in the Stark Gallery and the Alice and Jim Beckwith Sculpture Park.
