The Metropolitan Opera has announced its first online Family Holiday Festival, which will run December 17 through December 21, 2020. In previous years, a Holiday Open House for families has been held at the Met. This year, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a free, all-virtual festival will be presented across five days.<\/p>\n
A complete performance of a holiday favorite, Humperdinck\u2019s\u00a0Hansel and Gretel<\/em>, will be available to stream for free beginning Thursday, December 17, at 5:00pm ET until Monday, December 21, at 5:00pm ET. The family-friendly opera has inspired a lineup of online events to celebrate the season, including arts and crafts, baking, and composing carols. The opera stream and event information can be found at\u00a0metopera.org\/family<\/a>.<\/p>\n Below is the schedule for the Met\u2019s virtual Family Holiday Festival.<\/p>\n Thursday, December 17 at 5:00pm ET through Monday, December 21 at 5:00pm ET \u2013 Free Stream of Humperdinck\u2019s\u00a0Hansel and Gretel<\/em><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thursday, December 17 at 1:00pm ET \u2013 Getting to Know\u00a0Hansel and Gretel<\/em><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Learn about Humperdinck\u2019s operatic interpretation of this classic story with music educator Timothy Brendler.<\/p>\n Friday, December 18 at 1:00pm ET \u2013 Feeling Crafty<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Professional clown Stephanie Sine will lead families in a special craft inspired by Hansel and Gretel\u2019s adventure into the woods.<\/p>\n Saturday, December 19 at 11:00am ET \u2013 Kid in the Holiday Kitchen<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n New York Times\u00a0<\/em>food writer Melissa Clark and countertenor (and avid baker) Anthony Roth Costanzo will guide families in baking Deep Dark Fudgy Brownies, a recipe from Clark\u2019s new cookbook,\u00a0Kid in the Kitchen<\/em>.<\/p>\n Sunday, December 20 at 1:00pm ET \u2013 Creative Carols<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Actor and songwriter Joel Waggoner will lead a session on how to compose music and write lyrics for carols that are inspired by our own holiday traditions.<\/p>\n Monday, December 21 at 1:00pm ET \u2013 Solstice Songs<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n To celebrate the Winter Solstice, musician and educator Goussy C\u00e9lestin will share how music and stories have helped us understand the passage of time.<\/p>\n Monday, December 21 at 2:00pm ET \u2013 Solstice Dance Party<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The festival concludes with a dance party and holiday celebration for the entire family via Zoom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n