The National Wool Museum will transform into a festive wonderland of local art during its 12 Days of Christmas market starting next Friday.
The market will have silks, paintings, prints, jewellery and more for those looking for a unique present, with all sale proceeds going direct to local artists.
The free market includes artist demonstrations and a space to create Christmas ornaments.
Santa’s cousin Captain Santa-Beard will be in town until 22 December and will be calling for pre-schoolers to help him celebrate Christmas.
With Santa otherwise occupied his cousin needs some help gathering, wrapping, decorating and delivering Christmas cheer.
Mr Beard has plenty of Christmas fun planned with stories, puppets, songs and crafts for Geelong youngsters.
He will also take children on a journey back in time though the museum’s Pirates exhibition.
Kids can take command of a pirate ship, design their own flag and try out different weapons – from cutlasses to cannons.
They will find their fate on the wheel of misfortune, discover the best loot to steal and take a pirate selfie.
Along the way they will discover why pirate women were just as wicked as the men and practise talking the patter of a pirate.
Visitors will learn about the ships they sailed on, the punishments they suffered and the rules they lived by.
The hands-on Australian National Maritime Museum exhibition is based on the bestselling Horrible Histories.
It will bring author Terry Deary and illustrator Martin Brown’s unique approach to history to life with foul facts, lively illustrations and gruesome games.
Horrible Histories has filled children’s heads with foul facts since 1993. It is the world’s bestselling children’s history series, with more than 60 titles.
Horrible Histories is an award-winning TV show in its sixth season and appears on Australian television on ABC3.
For more information visit nwm.vic.gov.au.
