The Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian is gearing up for the holiday season with its third annual Winter Wonderland experience set to open on Saturday, Nov. 18.

A favorite event of area children, MCM-Meridian transforms into sort of a winter wonderland for the holiday season with faux snow, twinkling lights, an 18-foot artificial Christmas tree, donated by the Mississippi Forestry Association, and festive tunes that play throughout the museum.

Getting the museum ready for the holiday season went smoothly thanks to volunteer decorator Amy Nelson with the help of some Mississippi Power volunteers from the East Mississippi Community Connection chapter.

About 25 employee volunteers from Mississippi Power’s Meridian office and Plant Ratcliffe in Kemper County recently worked to install the holiday tree and its lights, hang bright snowflakes from the ceiling and place Christmas lights on the interior and exterior of the building. They also helped museum staff complete other miscellaneous tasks to get MCM-Meridian ready for the holidays.

“Assisting the Mississippi Children’s Museum with their Christmas setup is one of our favorite volunteer events of the year,” East Mississippi Community Connection President Jason Strawbridge said in a press release. “Through our volunteer effort, we were able to help beautify the museum with Christmas spirit, which ultimately enhances the experience for children of all ages in our area.”

MCM-Meridian Executive Director Barbara Zeller said the work needed to get the museum in the Christmas spirit would not have been possible without the extensive help from Mississippi Power’s Community Connection volunteers.

“Mississippi Power has always been such an amazing partner for the Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian,” Zeller said. “Helping us many times over our two-and-a-half years in operation, their support is truly invaluable. We wouldn’t be ready for the holidays without Mississippi Power.”

The Mississippi Power Foundation is recognized as one of the museum’s founders, and the company continues to support through annual donations. Employee volunteers have participated in this winter holiday project annually since the museum’s inception in 2021.

The Winter Wonderland experience at MCM-Meridian features a variety of events and activities including appearances by Santa, cookie decorating classes, reindeer workshops, and sock skating in the Snowflake Village exhibit. A new hands-on experience added this year will be an all-new large snow globe photo opportunity.

Museum members will get a special chance to kick-off the holidays during Peppermint & PJs, an after-hours, members-only event on Dec. 1 from 6-8 p.m. Families are encouraged to wear festive pajamas and enjoy cookies and milk, pictures with Santa, and holiday crafts, along with the museum’s other fun Winter Wonderland activities.

Opening to the public this Saturday, Winter Wonderland at MCM-Meridian will run through Jan. 7.