MSV, First Night coloring contest through Dec. 28

Winchester The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and First Night Winchester are hosting the 2013 First Night Winchester Coloring Contest.

Sponsored by the MSV, the free contest runs through Dec. 28 and features a coloring sheet illustrating First Night entertainment that will take place at the museum and in downtown Winchester this New Year’s Eve.

Contest participants will receive a complimentary admission ticket to visit the museum and one participant from each age group — child (7 and under), youth (8–12), teen (13–17), and adult (18+) — will win a one-year family membership to the MSV ($75 value), a family four-pack of buttons to First Night Winchester ($40 value), a package of McDonald’s ® gift cards ($25 value), and two tickets for a free movie at the Alamo.

In addition, the first 50 children to enter the contest will receive a gift card for one free McDonald’s Happy Meal and a coupon for one free popcorn at the Alamo (ages 12 and under only).

Contest winners will be announced Dec. 29. The four winning entries will be on display in the museum lobby Dec. 29 and 30 and at First Night Headquarters Dec. 31.

According to MSV Executive Director Dana Hand Evans, this is the second year that the museum has sponsored the coloring contest and served as a daytime entertainment venue for First Night Winchester.

Featuring a drawing by Shenandoah Valley artist John Burns, this year’s coloring sheet was inspired by the entertainment the MSV will offer to families this New Year’s Eve.

Just for First Night, the MSV will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Dec. 31. Magician Johnny-O will perform at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. From noon to 2 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m., he will also make balloon creations. In addition Glitterbugz Face Painting will be at the Museum from noon to 4 p.m.

Admission — which includes the magic shows, face painting, and gallery admission — is free to ages 12 and under, anyone wearing a First Night Winchester button, and MSV members. For others, regular admission rates apply ($10; $8 youth/senior).

Following their MSV appearance, Johnny-O and Glitterbugz will head to Old Town Winchester for evening performances. Founded in 1986, First Night Winchester is an alcohol-free New Year’s celebration of the arts in Old Town Winchester that features dozens of entertainers. The entertainment schedule for First Night Winchester 2013 will be announced at a press conference Dec. 7.

Those interested in participating in the coloring contest may pick up free coloring sheets at the Museum’s Visitor Information Desk, the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center on Pleasant Valley Road, participating merchants in Old Town Winchester, and at Winchester-area McDonald’s.

Coloring sheets may also be downloaded from the MSV website calendar of events at ShenandoahMuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page. To be eligible to win a prize in the contest, participants must bring (or mail) completed coloring sheets to the Visitor Information Desk in the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley by 4 p.m. Dec. 28.