All ages can get a dose of the holiday spirit at The Shafer Art Gallery’s “Holiday Open House” reception from 1-4 p.m.  Sunday, Dec. 6, which will feature a free puppet show from Kansas City’s Clement McCrae Puppet Shows at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Admission is free. 

The event is packed with the following attractions:

“Festival of Trees” exhibit featuring Christmas trees decorated by area school children.

Clement McCrae Professional Puppet Shows

Holiday music and catered refreshments

Model Christmas village

Felt art-board for children to create Christmas settings and scenes 

The St. Justa Ceramics Guild will have items for sale

Santa Claus will also be on hand with treats; ready to listen to children’s Christmas wishes

The Gallery’s award winning quilts exhibit, “New Quilts from an Old Favorite: Nine Patch,” sponsored by the National Quilt Museum, will also be on display

Gallery Director Dave Barnes said having the puppet show in the gallery is very special and a great opportunity for the community to see a first-class show.

“This year we are bringing an ancient art form to the Shafer Gallery,” he said.  “Puppetry has been around since the beginnings of human culture. I am very excited to have the chance to share with our community the performance of a very fine puppet theater. They are vetted with the Missouri Arts Council as one of their preferred touring groups. All educational value aside, who can resist dancing poodle marionettes?”