Campus is quiet as Yale settles into the semester break, but the university still offers options for adventure before the spring semester gets underway in earnest — nearly all of it for free. Here are some of the places and events to explore around Yale and the Elm City in the final days of 2024 and early weeks of 2025. Hours may vary by venue over the holiday; please follow the links to find the current open dates and hours.
Yale Peabody Museum
Looking for a bigger bird this holiday? Check out the iconic pterosaurs at the Peabody Museum of Natural History, where a life-sized model of a pteranodon sternbergi — with a wingspan of over 20 feet — hovers over the entryway. And visit the Peabody’s first temporary exhibition since its March reopening, “Mind/Matter,” which explores the historical and modern study of cognition and the brain.
- Hours
- Free
“Study for The Hours, House of Representatives Chamber, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg” by Edwin Austin Abbey
Yale University Art Gallery
Catch “The Dance of Life” exhibition at the Yale University Art Gallery before it ends on January 5th, featuring vibrant works by celebrated artists such as John Singer Sargent and Edwin Austin Abbey. Elsewhere in the galleries, newly on-view installations include “Jim Dine: ‘This is Me’” and “Photography and the Botanical World.”
- Hours
- Free
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
One of the world’s largest libraries of its kind, the Beinecke holds documents of human culture from 200 BCE to contemporary times. Highlights include the Gutenberg Bible — the earliest book printed in Europe using movable type. The library has permanent and special exhibitions of its collections — and offers tours led by expert guides.
New Haven Museum
Eager to learn more about the history of the Elm City? “Shining Light on Truth” at the New Haven Museum presents findings from the Yale and Slavery Research project and celebrates the role of Black resistance and community building in New Haven and at Yale.
- Hours
- Admission to the New Haven Museum is free during the show’s run, made possible by Yale.
Wooster Square Winter Farmer’s Market
Find fresh, local produce at this indoor farmers market — and grab a hot beverage to warm your hands while you browse.
- Resumes January 4th; Hours
- Free to visit
Ingalls Ice Rink
Yale’s own ice rink is open to the public for a series of open skate sessions! Bring your own skates and practice your spins. If you don’t want to risk embarrassing yourself on the ice, you also can come to admire the architecture. It’s lovingly referred to as “The Whale,” a reference to its swooping domed roof and ribbed support.
- Open skate dates (starting in January)
- Admission $10-15
