THE Museum in the Park is open this weekend for Christmas festivities. Step back in time to the elegant Victorian age and visit a country mansion scented with cloves and oranges and decorated with festive greenery. You will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of mulled wine or spiced cordial and invited to explore the mansion at your leisure. Or join the family of the house for carols by the magnificent Christmas tree, stories in the drawing room, or make a festive wreath to take home. If you are visiting on Saturday you can also purchase tickets for the specially commissioned Christmas theatrical entertainment, Prince Albert’s Palace of Varieties.

Performed by Spaniel in the Works Theatre Company, this lively one hour show looks at all aspects of Victorian life from the Royal family to the lives of the poor. Using music hall and literary styles to explore the developments and changes during the Victorian age, the performance finishes with a 15 minute Gilbert and Sullivan operetta looking at the rise and fall of the British Empire.

For further details contact the Museum on 01453 763394.

Victorian Open House, 11am - 4pm. Prince Albert's Palace of Varieties, 2pm, tickets £ 5/£ 4.

Apart from this weekend, The Museum in the Park will be closing its doors to the public throughout December for cleaning and decorating. It will re-open on New Year's Day 2009, from 11am to 4pm.