National Archives Public Programs in December
Press Release · Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Washington, DC

In December, the National Archives will present free public programs at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, at its Presidential Libraries nationwide, and online. Programs this month include concert series and tree-lighting ceremonies, as well as a continuation of the Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator program.

(In person) Winter Wonderland
Saturday, December 2, at 11 a.m. CT
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, TX
Open to the public
Join us at Travis Fields for a magical holiday experience for the entire family. Shop local vendor booths, participate in fun winter games, pet Santa’s reindeer, and enjoy holiday performances. Presented by the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Winter Wonderlands at Travis Fields is the place to be this season!

(In person) Abilene Municipal Band's Holiday Concert
Sunday, December 3, at 2 p.m. CT 
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, MO
Open to the public
Enjoy an afternoon concert filled with holiday magic! The Abilene Municipal Band will perform its annual Christmas concert filled with traditional and beloved holiday tunes!

(In person) Santa at the Center
Sunday, December 3 and 10, at 12 p.m. CT
William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Little Rock, AR
Open to the public
Meet Santa Claus and celebrate the holidays like it’s 1993! Thirty years ago this year, the Clintons spent their first holiday season in the White House. Join us at the Clinton Center for a family-friendly holiday celebration. Chris Kennedy, a professional Black Santa who was featured in the documentary film Santa Camp, will be our special guest of honor!

(In person) Sunday Concert Series at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Sunday, December 3, 10, and 17, at 2 p.m. PT 
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, CA
Open to the public
December 3: Placentia Community Chorus
December 10: KidSingers
December 17:  Golden State British Band

(In person) Tree-Lighting Ceremony
Monday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m. CT
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, TX
Register to attend in person
Join us as we light the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Center's Community Christmas Tree! Modeled after the tree-lighting ceremony that takes place annually on the White House grounds, the ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. and will include musical entertainment and a special guest tree lighter. The ceremony will take place outside, and a reception will follow inside. Throughout the month, we encourage people to take their family pictures in front of the beautifully decorated and lit tree.

(In person) Pearl Harbor Day Film Screening: TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970)
Thursday, December 7, at 2 p.m. ET
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY
Register to attend in person
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum presents a Pearl Harbor Day film screening of the 1970 Academy Award–winning film TORA! TORA! TORA! in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Library.

(In person) Holiday Open House Events: Decorations, Children's Reading Festival, Cards for Sailors, Santa, and Refreshments
Saturday, December 9, at 9 a.m. ET
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY
The annual Holiday Open House will take place at the Roosevelt Library and the Home of FDR National Historic Site. Both the Home and the Roosevelt Library study will be decorated for the holidays as they were during the Roosevelt Presidency. The annual Children’s Reading Festival will be held in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Library, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on December 9. Children's book authors will read from and sign copies of their books. Featured books will be available for purchase. In addition, there will be live music, photos with Santa, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and holiday card-making for sailors on the USS Roosevelt beginning at noon. Refreshments will be served in the visitor center throughout the afternoon.

(In person) 2023 Holidays in the Rotunda
Saturday, December 9, at 10 a.m. CT
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, TX
Register to attend in person
Get into the holiday spirit with our annual Holidays in the Rotunda celebration. This free event takes place in front of the museum’s magnificently decorated Christmas tree in the Rotunda. Live holiday entertainment, along with ornament-making in Santa’s Workshop, will get you in the yuletide spirit. Santa Claus will be here to hear your children’s wish lists, so bring your cameras! Cookies, hot chocolate, and punch will be served.

(In person) The Kay R. Pace School of the Arts Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 9, at 11 a.m. ET
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Atlanta, GA
Open to the public
Get into the holiday spirit as the Kay R. Pace School of the Arts Choir presents songs of the holidays. This choir will have you singing and dancing all day long!

(In person) Seeking Truth in an AI World: Surviving Deepfakes Deception, and Discrimination 
Tuesday, December 12, at 6:30 p.m. CT 
Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, Austin, TX
Register to attend in person 
How can people, companies, schools, and governments navigate what is true and what is false in a world with artificial intelligence able to create deepfakes—fake articles, schoolwork, or even military intelligence—and discriminate in the process? Join us to explore this question and more in a new world of artificial intelligence. Confirmed speakers include: Chelsea Collier, founder of Digi.City, editor-at-large for Smart Cities Connect, and research assistant for Good Systems, and Doreen Lorenzo, assistant dean, School of Design and Creative Technologies, The University of Texas at Austin. Moderated by Craig Watkins, Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor and the executive director of the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.

(In person) Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator
Friday, December 15, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. CT
William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Little Rock, AR
Open to the public
“Presents for the President: Happy Holidays, President Clinton!” The President gets Christmas and holiday gifts just like all the rest of us. While some may want to give him a lump of coal, others send along heartfelt gifts of the season. The Clinton Library and Museum holds the program “Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator” on the third Friday of every month at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.