Children's International Holiday Party

In the frenzy that surrounds the Christmas season, the New Orleans Museum of Art offers a chance for children and parents (or grandparents or aunts or uncles) to have a pleasant afternoon that requires no preparation, no special outfits and, best of all, no gift-buying. Singing, dancing and storytelling are on the schedule, along with hands-on art projects. There's plenty of activity but the pace is civilised and the emphasis on fun.

pAn Amsterdam

110 art and antiques dealers from around the world come together for pAn Amsterdam, one of the largest antique fairs in the country. While every era and part of the globe will be represented, this year's focus exhibition is called 'Treasury of the Past' and is made up of prize pieces from the National Museum of Antiquities. Art 'detectives' from the Art Loss Register will be also on hand to authenticate pieces.