Anna, from the three to five-years-old category in Happy to Be Me. Courtesy Leicester Children's Fund.

Let’s face it, you can’t stay in eating mince pies all through your Christmas holidays, so the 24 Hour Museum has picked out some alternative activities – visiting some brilliant exhibitions!

You’ll find a fantastic showcase of local talent until January 8 2005 at the City Gallery, where paintings, sculptures and prints by more than 230 artists are on display. The Open exhibition is in its 16th year, bringing the picks of work by amateur and professional artists from the East Midlands to a public audience.

Upstairs at the City Gallery until January 1 2005 are mixed media self-portraits celebrating what it’s like to be a child – see our article about Happy to Be Me. Following that, from January 4 to 8, Raj Parmar’s photographs taken during a trip round the world will be on show.

The Charnwood Imaging Group has only been going since 2003, but has already undertaken some important commissions. The group is now exhibiting photography, digital imaging and videography in a modern interpretation of the four elements of the ancient world. Earth, Water, Wind and Fire can be seen at Charnwood Museum, till January 18 2005.

1950s Style Robot Lamp by Ken Coulbeck. Courtesy The City Gallery.

Admirable as their theories were, the ancient Greeks didn’t quite have a handle on science as we do today. From December 18 to January 3 2005, the National Space Centre is dealing with the question of whether Father Christmas could really get round all those houses, within the laws of physics. This fun, interactive presentation for all the family will explore this and other Christmas science.

Snibston Discovery Park’s year-long exhibition giving an artist’s view of factory life is finishing on 31 January 2005. The graphic document of a Leicestershire woven fabric factory by Liz Minichiello is in the Extractives Gallery.

Britany & Me by Duncan Fegredo. Courtesy The City Gallery.

Last but not least, Leicestershire Calligraphers are holding their annual display of work at the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland in Wigston Magna until December 31. See how beautiful handwriting can be at this free exhibition, where there will be handmade items for sale.

If you’re still hungry for culture after you’ve been to all of these, check out the permanent exhibitions on offer in the city. The New Walk Museum has got dinosaurs and ancient Egyptians, while enlightening displays at the Abbey Pumping Station include Fun at the Flicks and Flushed with Pride.

Leicester Museums have some exciting things in store for 2005 with several new and revamped galleries due to open – watch this space!