EDMESTON – The Edmeston Museum will celebrate Christmas beginning December 5th and running through December 19th with a painted gourd scavenger hunt.

Museum representatives said each Saturday two or three painted gourds will be hidden throughout the museum, and can be kept by visitors if seen. Representatives said it is the museum’s gift to individuals for visiting, and the museum is open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

The gourds are painted by Karen Blackman who grew up in Edmeston and graduated from the Edmeston Central School.

Fifteen years ago she was introduced to crafting with gourds when she visited a gourd farm in California, said representatives.

The work was reminiscent of the wood work she did with her late father, Rev. John Blackman. Since then she’s taken classes on working with them and is now a member of the NYS Gourd Society.

For the museum, Karen has painted holiday bird scenes, Santa and a holiday penguin!

Located at 1 North Street, Edmeston, admission to the museum is free and all are welcome. Representatives said Ida Marie Tophoven won the gift basket raffle for the "Alice's Tea Party" pop-up exhibit.