Opening

Children’s Museum of Richmond Legendary Santa plants himself at the museum to figure out who’s been good, bad or neutral, starting Nov. 24 at 9:30 a.m. Through Dec. 24. Free. 2626 W. Broad St. 474-2667.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden GardenFest of Lights features more than a half million lights arranged in botanical and holiday themes, running 5-10 p.m. Nov. 24-Jan. 14. Admission is $6-$10. 1800 Lakeside Ave. 262-9887.

Wilton House Museum Wilton House Museum presents “A Twelfth Night Feast and Ball,” colonial-era holiday celebrations, opening Nov. 25 with tours 1-4:30 p.m. through Jan. 7. Admission is $5-$6. 215 S. Wilton Road. 282-5936.

Ongoing

Agecroft Hall and Gardens The holiday tour “Bellycheer” runs through Jan. 7. This imported British manor house offers special events and lectures regularly. 4305 Sulgrave Road. 353-4241.

Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives “Minding the Store: Richmond’s Jewish Merchants” runs through spring 2007. “Answering the Call: Prayer, Patriotism, Service & Sacrifice” runs through August 2007. “Commonwealth and Community: The Jewish Experience in Virginia” and “Treasures of the Collection” are on permanent display. 1109 W. Franklin St. Call 353-2668 or visit www.bethahabah.org.

Black History Museum & Cultural Center The history of Richmond’s black culture told through artifacts, lectures and programs. 00 Clay St. 780-9093.

Children’s Museum of Richmond The Genworth Financial Holiday Village, a child-sized Fan neighborhood, runs through December. Art and science exhibits designed for a younger perspective, with events and weekly programs. Also, CMoR Playhouse Presents, every Saturday, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission is $6-$7. 2626 W. Broad St. Call 474-2667 or visit www.c-mor.org.

Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar The center’s permanent flagship exhibit “In the Cause of Liberty” runs through the end of time. 490 Tredegar St. 788-6498.

Haunts of Richmond The museum of Richmond’s haunted history leads walking tours, Friday-Saturday at 9 p.m. Admission is $14.99. 11 N. 18th St. 343-3700.

Henricus Historical Park “Henricus Comes Alive” features a program of re-enactors and activities. 706-1340.

Historic Jackson Ward Museum The museum focuses on the history of black Richmond and one of its most famous areas. 502 N. Third St. 343-1825.

John Marshall House The restored Federal-style home of the former chief justice of the United States offers tours and exhibits. $4-$6. 818 E. Marshall St. 648-7998.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden More than 30 acres of gardens, changing seasonal displays, numerous events, a Children’s Garden and a bird-watching trail. Admission is $5-$9. 1800 Lakeside Ave. 262-9887.

Library of Virginia “From the Seed to the Hand,” a photographic documentary by Angela M. Orrell, runs through Nov. 30. “Storytime: Our Favorite Children’s Books” is on display through Dec. 23. Books, lectures and art displays can be explored through tours or with a library card. 800 E. Broad St. 692-3592.

Maymont Park “In Service and Beyond: Domestic Work and Life in a Gilded Age Mansion” on permanent display in the Maymont House. The Maymont Foundation offers numerous programs, tours and events for children and adults. 1700 Hampton St. For more information, call 358-7166 or visit www.maymont.org.

Museum of the Confederacy “Art of the Confederacy,” works by Confederate soldiers, runs through Nov. 30. Artifacts and information on the Civil War and the antebellum South. 1201 E. Clay St. 649-1861.

Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier “Many Thousands Go: African Americans and the Civil War,” artifacts and documents detailing the African-American experience on both sides of the Civil War, runs through May 2007. 6125 Boydton Plank Road in Petersburg. 861-2408, ext. 606.

Richmond Public Library Books and historical exhibits are complemented by lectures and tours. 101 E. Franklin St. 646-4514.

Science Museum of Virginia “Joy From the World,” with traditional crafts, food and music, runs through Jan. 1. “Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France” runs through Jan. 1 at the IMAX Dome. Tickets are $8.50. “Animal Grossology” brings to life the gritty and gross facts on some of nature’s most disgusting creatures through Jan. 1. The museum also offers programs, lectures and classes for children and adults. 2500 W. Broad St. Call 864-1400 or visit www.smv.org.

Scotchtown The 18th-century home of Dolley Madison and Patrick Henry is open for guided tours Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays, noon-4 p.m. 648-1889.

Siege Museum “Rediscovering the Forgotten Garden” runs through Jan. 28. “A City Endured: Civil War Photographs of Petersburg,” photography by Alexander Gardner, Timothy O’ Sullivan and the Matthew Brady studio, on permanent display. 15 W. Bank St. in Petersburg. 733-2427.

University of Richmond Museums At the Lora Robins Gallery of Design From Nature: “Smoked: Works by John Cage, Ray Kass and Stephen Addiss,” through Dec. 17; “Parian Porcelain: A Nineteenth-Century Passion,” through May 27. At the Harnett Museum of Art: “The Space of Freedom: Apartment Exhibitions in Leningrad, 1964-1986” runs through Dec. 3; and “Lasting Impressions: Celebrating the Fifth Anniversary of the Joel and Lila Harnett Print Study Center” runs through Dec. 8. At UR’s Harnett Museum of Art, “77 Dances: Japanese Calligraphy by Poets, Monks, and Scholars, 1568-1868” runs through Dec. 10. 289-8276.

Valentine Richmond History Center “Why Richmond? Richmond Immigrants Tell Their Stories” runs through Feb. 28. A collection of Richmond’s cultural artifacts, with bus and walking tours offered every Sunday. Admission is $7-$10. 1015 E. Clay St. 649-0711.

Virginia Aviation Museum “Forces of Flight” is a collection of interactive exhibits on the science of flight. The museum offers special programs, exhibits and lectures on the history and science of flight. 5701 Huntsman Road. 236-3622.

Virginia Center for Architecture “Architecture in Perspective,” award-winning architectural illustrations from around the world, runs through Jan. 14. The museum offers Saturday tours of the house and Richmond landmarks. Admission is free, but tours cost $5-$10. 2501 Monument Ave. Call 644-3041 or visit www.virginiaarchitecture.org.

Virginia Fire and Police Museum The city’s oldest police and fire station, Steamer Company No. 5, is home to Gallery5 and antique fire-fighting equipment. 200 W. Marshall St. 644-0005.

Virginia Historical Society “175 Years of Collecting: A Virginia History Quiz” and “Quilts of the Old Dominion,” through December; “Pierre Daura’s Vision of Virginia,” a collection of the artist’s paintings, runs through Jan. 14; and “Virginians at Work” and “The Virginia Manufactory of Arms Collection” on long-term display. 428 N. Boulevard. 358-4901.

Virginia Holocaust Museum “Liberation!” follows the course of World War II during the period of Europe’s liberation, telling the stories of several Richmonders who witnessed that side of the war. “Exodus” exhibits the 1947 attempt to land thousands of Holocaust survivors in Palestine and the eventual creation of Israel. At the museum art gallery, G. Roy Levin’s Holocaust paintings are on display. 2000 E. Cary St. 257-5400.

Virginia House Photography exhibit detailing the design and building of Virginia House, home of Alexander and Virginia Weddell. Permanent exhibit. 4301 Sulgrave Road in Windsor Farms. 353-4251.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts “Speed” explores how artists use movement to create spirited and expressive masterpieces, running through Jan. 7. Also, a show of photographic portraits by Glen McClure runs through Jan. 7. “An Enduring Legacy: Paintings Acquired Through the J. Harwood and Louise B. Cochrane Fund for American Art” runs through fall 2008. Also, modern and classical art, plus rotating exhibits and social events. 200 N. Boulevard. 340-1400.

Virginia War Memorial The memorial honors Virginia’s men and women who have fought in previous wars. Also, frequent musical performances and lectures. Free admission. 621 S. Belvidere St. 786-2060.

Wilton House Museum “Redefining Ryland: A Portrait of the Virginia Gentry” and “With Every Season” feature photographs and displays that explore the construction of the building at World’s End and its relocation to Richmond, as well as the story of the Randolph family. Tours available Tuesday-Sunday. Admission is $5-$6. 215 S. Wilton Road. 282-5936. S