Flo Gris offers ‘The Magic of Christmas’

The Florence Griswold Museum is celebrating the holiday season with “The Magic of Christmas,” which will run through Jan. 6.

During the event, the Florence Griswold House is decorated and showcases a new addition this year: “Marvelous Mantels.” In the historic areas, the mantels over each fireplace are festooned with greens and ornaments that reflect the painting that hangs above.

In the Krieble Gallery, visitors can see the painted palettes on “Miss Florence’s Artist Trees.” Nearly 200 artists from across the country have donated works.

This year is the 15th anniversary of the museum’s collecting painted palettes for “Miss Florence’s Artist Trees.” The idea of contemporary artists creating paintings on artists’ palettes is a nod to the museum’s history as the center for the Lyme Art Colony and alludes to the door and wall panels the artists painted throughout Miss Florence’s boardinghouse over a century ago.

On Saturdays between Dec. 1 and Jan. 5, museum admission is $5 when visitors bring in a non-perishable donation for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries. (Admission is usually $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $8 students, and free to children 12 and under.)

The museum is located at 96 Lyme St., Old Lyme, and it is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat. and 1-5 p.m. Sun. Call (860) 434-5542.