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Festive art support

Blanden to hold holiday open house

The Blanden Memorial Art Museum will be filled with warm festive music, delicious foods and plenty of holiday spirit on Saturday during its annual Holiday Open House from 3 to 6 p.m.

Museum Director Eric Anderson is excited about the event, which helps raise funds for the Blanden’s art education programs.

“I always look forward to it,” he said.

Guests will be able to make a donation to those programs through a giving tree, which is already on display at the museum.

“It’s on the main floor with dollar amounts,” he said. “People can give $20 for children’s art supplies or choose to give money toward a new potter’s wheel for example.”

In addition to raising money for their education efforts, he said, they have several other goals for the day.

“We want to show the community we are here, try to ignite that holiday spirit, promote artists and shopping locally,” he said.

Several local musicians and groups will be entertaining guests.

“Dave Hearn is playing from 3 to 3:50,” Anderson said. “Bad to the Trombone is on from 4 to 4:50 and Will Lopes from Iowa Central has the 5 to 5:50 time slot.”

The holiday season is also the museum’s membership drive with different levels of memberships available.

The open house is free to attend and enjoy with freewill offerings accepted.

There will also be cookies and other treats. Many are provided by Tea Thyme and some are provided by local volunteer bakers, including Anderson’s mom, Lynn Anderson, of Estherville.

Anderson said he expects those to be a favorite; there is after all, nothing like mom’s baked goods.

“No,” he said. “There’s not.”

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