A special extra exhibit which encompasses the classic Dickens tale A Christmas Carol. Stroll through a mid-1800s street to learn how Dickens influenced the look and feel of the holiday season, and view a private collection of vintage cards and calendars.

Kids, accompanied by an adult, can make simple versions of objects inspired by Native American cultures to take home as souvenirs or gifts. From 2-2:30 p.m., hear Native American stories told in the museum's Teaching Lodge area.

Light the kinara with The Tuskegee Airmen Inc., Alderman Willie B. Cochran, the South Side Community Arts Center, Truestar Magazineand Teen Talk Radio Theater.

Visitors become space adventurers and set off on a journey to discover the Universe in a way never done before. Travel a billion light-years and back, fly through space, orbit the Moon, zoom into a canyon on Mars, and soar through the cosmic web where a million galaxies shower down. The experience was created utilizing real telescopic data and the best scientific imagery.

View the winter spectacle from inside the 70' Grainger Sky Theater dome.

A live show that explores the connections between the sights and sounds of the holiday season and our experience of the night sky during this special time of year. Discover the reason for the winter solstice, examine the significance surrounding the Star of Bethlehem, witness the beauty of the Aurora Borealis, and explore the winter sky celebrations of cultures all around the globe from past and present.

Explore the shapes of the season with hands-on crafts, puzzles, and fun art projects.

Exhibit examines the ancestry and evolution of numerous species, ranging from huge to tiny, from speedy to sloth-like, and displays animals with oversized claws, fangs, snouts, and horns. Highlights include taxidermy specimens, an entire skeleton of a giant hoofed plant-eater, a life-size model of the largest land mammal that ever lived, one of the oldest fossilized bats ever found, and an impressive diorama featuring the swamps and forests of an island in the Arctic. Runs May 26, 2012-Jan. 6, 2013.

Enjoy breathtaking performances by the Kalapriya Center for Performing Arts, as dancers lead you on a journey through India, inspired by the court dances of India performed for kings and queens.

Multispecies holiday aquatic show features dolphins, beluga whales and a sea lion, accompanied by multicultural holiday music and festive backgrounds from around the world. The Oceanarium will be transformed with snow covered trees, rocks and twinkling lights. Special holiday costumed characters, including Santa, will make an appearance.