Tinker Swiss Cottage announces 2012 schedule

Staff Report

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens has a 2012 schedule of events and programming encompassing history, education, culture, nature, our families and the Rockford region that will enhance our collective community. They seek your financial support for this calendar of events.

Sponsorships are available for:

• Tinker Restoration Projects

• Tinker With Music

• Year of the Book Exhibits

• Robert Tinker Press Publications

• History Family Days

• Day of the Dead Celebration

Sponsorships are available for companies by calling (815) 964-2424. Sponsorships are: Robert Hall Tinker, $10,000, platinum level; Marty Dorr Manny Tinker, $5,000, gold level; Jessie Dorr Hurd Tinker, $2,500, silver level; Teddy Tinker, $1,000, bronze level; and Marcia Dorr Tinker, $500, copper level. Sponsors in 2012 will receive recognition in the printed programs for their sponsored events and four tickets to their sponsored events. Additional recognition benefits are assigned according to sponsorship level.

Tinker Year of the Book schedule is as follows:

January

14 – Lecture: Dr. Simon Cordery will speak about “The Railroads of Illinois.” 2 p.m.

Lecture, book signing and reception for Dr. Cordery

Tickets available NOW! $5 per person, $3 per member

February

10 – Paranormal Tour at Tinker

Tickets available NOW — $20 per person or $15 per person for members

18 – Family Game Day — Indoor and outdoor Victorian games. How did Victorian children occupy their time during the cold winter months? 1-4 p.m.

Special appearance by award-winning Kilted Snow Weasels snow sculpting team! They will be sculpting all afternoon on the Tinker grounds.

Tickets available NOW! $5 per person, $2 per person for members, $20 per family

March

2 – Book Release Party: Life at Tinker Swiss Cottage: The Journals of Robert Hall Tinker: Vol. 1. 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center.

Exhibit: “The Tinker Journals”

8 – Special Access Evening. Get up close and personal with the journals, under direction of the curator.

Tickets: $50 – Advance purchase ONLY. 6-8 p.m.

9 – Members Exhibit Preview. 6-8 p.m.

Exhibit opening reception and preview. Free with your Tinker Membership Card

10 – General Exhibit Opening. General exhibit viewing included in the regular tour admission price. This exhibit runs through April 29, 2012.

30 – Paranormal Tour at Tinker

Tickets available NOW! $20 per person or $15 per person for members

31 – Bloodstains Killer Book Signing/ Meet & Greet 1-5 p.m.

Meet Jeff Mudgett (great-great grandson of H.H. Homes — Serial killer immortalized in The Devil in White City). Purchase his new book, Bloodstains, get a photo and have your book signed. Call for ticket info.

April

3 – Tinker Visions Luncheon at Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

6 – Book Release Party: Life at Tinker Swiss Cottage: The Journals of Robert Hall Tinker, Vol. 2. 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center.

14-15 – Spring Art Scene – Original artwork by Jen Mullin Johansson, “The Chairs of Tinker Swiss Cottage,” Friday, 5-9 p.m.

May

4 – Book Release Party: Life at Tinker Swiss Cottage: The Journals of Robert Hall Tinker, Vol. 3. 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center.

Exhibit: “The Tinker Rare Books and First Editions”

10 – Special Access Evening. Get up close and personal with the journals, under direction of the curator. Tickets $50 Advance Purchase ONLY. 6-8 p.m.

11 – Members Exhibit Preview, 6-8 p.m.

Exhibit opening reception and preview. Free with your Tinker Membership Card.

12 – General Exhibit Opening. General exhibit viewing included in the regular tour admission price. This exhibit runs through July 1, 2012.

18 – Paranormal Tour at Tinker

Tickets available NOW! $20 per person or $15 per person for members

June

1 – Book Release Party, Tinker’s French Journal – 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center.

2 – History Family Camp -10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

$10 per person, $7 per person for members. $30 per family.

8 – Tinker with Music – Dean Moriarty Jazz Band

Tickets $5 per person general admission, $2 per person for members

16 – History Family Camp -10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

$10 per person, $7 per person for members. $30 per family.

30 – History Family Camp -10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

$10 per person, $7 per person for members. $30 per family.

July

4 – The Museum is closed.

13 – Tinker with Music – Ice Cream Social! With the Turtle Creek Ramblers

Tickets $5 per person general admission, $2 per person for members.

14 – History Family Camp -10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

$10 per person, $7 per person for members. $30 per family.

Exhibit: “The Tinker Audubon Books”

19 – Special Access Evening. Get up close and personal with the journals, under direction of the curator.

Tickets: $50 – Advance Purchase ONLY. 6-8 p.m.

20 – Members Exhibit Preview. 6-8 p.m.

Exhibit opening reception and preview. Free with your Tinker Membership Card.

21 – General Exhibit Opening. General exhibit viewing included in the regular tour admission price. This exhibit runs through July 1, 2013.

27 – Paranormal Tour at Tinker

Tickets available NOW! $20 per person or $15 per person for members

28 – History Family Camp -10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

$10 per person, $7 per person for members. $30 per family

August

3 – Book Release Party: Robert Tinker’s Sketch Books, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center.

10 – Tinker with Music – Keith School Rock Camp and The Sons!

Tickets $5 per person general admission, $2 per person for members.

11 – History Family Camp -10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

$10 per person, $7 per person for members. $30 per family.

31 – Book Release Party: The History of Tinker, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center.

September

6 – Special Access Evening. Get up close and personal with the journals, under direction of the curator.

Tickets: $50 – Advance Purchase ONLY. 6-8 p.m.

7 – Members Exhibit Preview, 6-8 p.m.

Exhibit opening reception and preview. Free with your Tinker Membership Card.

8 – General Exhibit Opening. General exhibit viewing included in the regular tour admission price. This exhibit runs through July 1, 2013.

14 – Paranormal Tour at Tinker

Tickets available NOW! $20 per person or $15 per person for members

October

5 – Paranormal Tour at Tinker

Tickets available NOW! $20 per person or $15 per person for members

12-13 – Fall Art Scene – Original artwork curated by Mario Kayo Martinez “Dia de los Muertos”. Friday from 5-9 p.m.

13 – Public Ofrenda – The construction of a public Ofrenda. Dia de los Muertos workshop with presentations and make & take crafts. For ages 5-100. 1-3 p.m.

20 – Dia de los Muertos Workshop with presentations and make & take crafts. For ages 5-100. 1-3 p.m.

Tickets $5 per person general admission, $2 per person for members.

26 – Paranormal Tour at Tinker

Tickets available NOW! $20 per person or $15 per person for members

27 – Dia de los Muertos Workshop with presentations and make & take crafts. For ages 5-100. 1-3 p.m.

Tickets $5 per person general admission, $2 per person for members.

November

2 – Paranormal Tour at Tinker

Tickets available NOW! $20 per person or $15 per person for members

4 – Dia de los Muertos Procession. 1 p.m. Procession will be from Tinker Lane & Winnebago St. and end at the Ethnic Heritage Museum. Free!

22-23 – Museum will be closed.

December

1-31 – Victorian Holiday Tours

24-25 – Museum will be closed.

Note: History Family Camps must be pre-registered and prepaid. For more information on any of these events or to purchase tickets, go to www.tinkercottage.com or call (815) 964-2424.

From the Dec. 28, 2011-Jan. 3, 2012, issue