By Meghan E. Gattignolo
It’s finally upon us! The holidays are creeping up and Noel Night 2023 is just around the corner! You love Art Walk throughout the rest of the year, but have you experienced December’s Art Walk and Noel Night at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center?
Every year during December’s Downtown Art Walk, the Museum is free and open to the public – with some special holiday cheer thrown in! After taking part in other public holiday events that take place in the chilly outside, such as looking at light displays and watching the parade, you’ll enjoy Noel Night even more. At the Museum, Noel Night is enjoyed in the cozy indoors, surrounded by exhibits, food and music. Noel Night always proves to be a wonderful experience, both for families to get into the holiday cheer together, as well as for gift shopping!
Noel Night is an event hosted by Seasons: The Museum Store, so holiday shopping is a major focus. Visitor Services Manager Laura Cagaoan always does an inspired job pulling this fun holiday shopping event together, along with Lead Visitor Services Associate Kim Raines. Visitors to Noel Night will get a discount in the store during the event, plus a free ornament when they spend at least $100. The Customs House Museum gets a new special holiday ornament every year, and this year’s ornament is designed by local artist Sarah Spillers. No doubt a work of art you’ll want to display on your tree!
To better prepare Seasons: The Museum Store shoppers this year, here’s a gift guide to review before the big night!
Gifts Under $5
3D Holiday Glasses – $1.99
3D Holiday Glasses make checking out the many holiday light displays around Clarksville even more fun by turning colored lights into a spectacle! Grab a pair for the whole family before enjoying the drive-thru light display at the Clarksville Speedway, the Riverwalk light display at MacGregor Park, or just checking out the neighbor’s lights down the street.
Tea Towel – $2.99
Everyone on your holiday gift-giving list could use a stylish and practical tea towel. These cloth companions can add charm to any kitchen. Know someone just moving to a new place? They’re going to need some anyway, so might as well get them some pretty tea towels!
Magnets – $3.50
Commemorate any past trip to the Museum by giving a magnet with a picture of the iconic 1898 building, or a great Clarksville magnet.
TN Tin – $4.99
Celebrate life in Tennessee by gifting this awesome tin. They make great mailable gifts you can send to your friends and family that live far away, to remind them how great it is to live in the Volunteer State!
Gifts Under $10
Canvas Bag – $5.99
Making shopping fun and eco-friendly with a cute reusable bag.
“Early Afternoon Shadows” Ornament – $6.50
Spruce up the tree with an ornament featuring gorgeous art of Clarksville’s most iconic building.
Mug – $6.99
The coffee or tea-drinker in your life probably needs a new mug! Get a nice one here!
Plus-Plus Tubes – $8.99
They’re not the toy building blocks you’re used to – they’re better! Plus-Plus Tubes are clever little plastic building blocks that allow for multiple creations. Widen the imagination of the curious child in your life. They make terrific stocking stuffers!
Premium Gift Baskets
Stuck on what to buy? Give them a bundle of joy. The store has done the work for you and crafted these amazing baskets full of great gifts that go together!
Iconic TN Basket – $19.99
Dinosaur Gift Basket – $24.99
TN Kitchen Basket – $37.99
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Looking for a holiday gift that lasts all year long? Consider a gift membership to the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center! Perfect for the art lovers, history buffs and little explorers in your life. Gift memberships start at $35.
Come for the shopping, but stay for everything else. If you aren’t ready for the holidays yet, you will be after attending Noel Night, December 7 from 5-8pm. Enjoy snacks, music and free gift-wrapping for anything you buy in-store. Everyone gets 15% off their purchase during Noel Night, while Museum members enjoy 25% off. Learn about the legend of the Christmas spider during this year’s family craft, and check out the Snowflake Special downstairs running through the tracks of the F&M Huff & Puff Express Model Train exhibit. Even better, all Museum exhibits are open and free to view during the event. We hope to see you there!
Meghan E. Gattignolo is a freelance writer and longtime Clarksville, TN resident. She loves to obsess about historical subjects and annoy her family daily with unsolicited random facts. Meghan holds a History B.A. from Austin Peay State University and lives in town with her husband and two daughters.