Bring A Letter to Santa to the Newseum for Free Admission on "Yes, Virginia" Family Day

Families are invited to celebrate the season with the Newseum at its 17th annual "Yes, Virginia" Family Day on Saturday December 12, 2015, from 9 am to 4 pm.  Enjoy holiday treats, cookie-decorating, crafts, train rides, music by the Figgy Puddings Holiday Carolers, a visit from the One-and-Only Macy’s Santa Claus and more on a day inspired by a letter from 8-year old Virginia O'Hanlon to the New York Sun in 1897.  The paper's response assuring Virginia that there was a Santa Claus has become most reprinted newspaper editorial in history and has appeared in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other newspapers, and on posters and stamps.

As a special holiday treat for the whole family, kids 18 years and younger will receive free admission to the Newseum when they bring a “letter for Santa” to put in the Macy’s Believe Mailbox. Each letter collected will also earn a $1 donation to Make-A-Wish® by Macy's.

Tentative schedule of events:

• Reporting Live from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®! 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. Step in front of a camera and report “live” from the annual Macy’s parade at our special “Be a TV Reporter” experience!  
• “Yes, Virginia” Film Screening EVERY 30 MINUTES, 9 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M. Relax and watch the 22-minute 2009 animated film “Yes, Virginia.”  
• Holiday-Themed Crafts 11 A.M. TO 4 P.M. Create a Victorian-era paper bell and a reindeer ornament, plus decorate a picture frame to preserve your holiday memories.  
• Holiday Train Ride 9 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. Hop aboard a miniature train for a ride that will fill you with wonder and delight.  
• “I Believe” Buttons and Photo Op 11 A.M. TO 4 P.M. Create your own “I Believe” button, then take your photo in front of a winter wonderland.  
• Holiday Bake Shop 11 A.M. TO 1 P.M. (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST). Decorate your own delicious holiday cookies!  
• Figgy Puddings Holiday Carolers 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. Keep an ear out for these singers from the Washington National Opera spreading holiday cheer throughout the Newseum.  
• “Yes, Virginia” Reading with Very Special Guests 1 TO 1:30 P.M. Join Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier and 9-year-old Mehren O’Hanlon Blair as they read her great-great grandmother Virginia O’Hanlon’s famous 1897 letter to the New York Sun that inspired history’s most reprinted editorial. Afterward, the One-and-Only Macy’s Santa Claus will make a special guest appearance to recite “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
• Visit with the One-and-Only Macy’s Santa Claus 1:30 TO 4 P.M. Free ticketed event.

Seating is on a space-available basis.  Free same-day admission offer is not valid in conjunction with other discounts.  For more info please visit Newseum.org.

Images provided courtesy of the Newseum.