COLUMBIA -- Ciao! The delights of all things Italian will be offered to the public Saturday, Nov. 22, as the South Carolina State Museum celebrates its new exhibit "Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion" with an Italian Street Fair.

Held on the museum grounds, the street fair will begin at 10 a.m. and feature a variety of Italian-related activities throughout the day, culminating in a wine-tasting from 5 to 8 p.m.

Family activities will include demonstrations of the game of bocce by the Special Olympics Bocce Club. Guests will also have the opportunity to learn the game that was developed by Italy in its present form and is similar to bowling.

In addition, children can participate in sidewalk chalk painting, another Italian custom popularized by street artists called Madonnari. Inside the museum in the Stringer Discovery Center, children will have the chance to make Venetian masks.

Lending an authentic flavor to the day will be members of the Canton of Cyddlain Downs, the local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group of "re-creationists" of Middle Ages and Renaissance life. Guests will have the chance to see customs and hobbies practiced during that time period.

Guests can also enjoy "A Taste of Italy" with samplings of Italian food available for purchase from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At 5 p.m., guests will be invited purchase tickets for a wine-tasting with light hors d'oeuvres. Mike Tronco and Jackie Muckenfuss will provide music for the evening featuring Italian standards that range from the best of Frank Sinatra to the swinging sounds of Bobby Darin. Plus, guests at the wine-tasting will have the chance to see the "Machines in Motion" exhibit after hours. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for museum members.

Other activities are included with museum admission or membership, unless otherwise noted.

For more information, call 803-898-4952, e-mail publicprograms@scmuseum.org. or visit www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org.

Special to The T&D

You must be logged in to comment.