Best Bets: Live music, 'Snow Town,' virtual author visits and Emancipation Day discussion

When “Wild Kratts” runs through Jan. 10; “Snow Town” runs Jan. 8-Feb. 28; hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday • Where Magic House, 516 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood • How much Free with $12 museum admission • More info magichouse.org

Activate your creature powers as you explore during the last weekend of the “Wild Kratts: Creature Power” exhibit, based on the popular PBS Kids series. Children and their families can explore four animal habitats and cultivate STEM skills. On Jan. 8, explore outdoor fun at “Snow Town,” which includes snow-themed carnival games and snowball putt-putt. By Valerie Schremp Hahn

When Through Jan. 17; hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays • Where America’s Ballroom at America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza • How much $10.50-$17.50, free for children under 6; $40 for family four-pack; $10 each for groups of 10 or more; $3 for audio narration • More info explorestlouis.com/sistine

You now have more time to escape to Vatican City. The producers of “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” have announced that the exhibit, which was to have ended Jan. 10, will now continue Jan. 15-17 at America’s Center. The exhibit includes photographs of panels of the famous frescos of the chapel ceiling, reproduced in their near-original size. Visitors can walk through more than 27,000 square feet of the second-floor America’s Ballroom to see the paintings up close instead of from 65 feet away. Timed tickets will be available to ensure capacity and social distancing restrictions. By Amy Bertrand

When 7 p.m. Jan. 11 • Where facebook.com/hectv • How much Free • More info slcl.org

The new year is almost synonymous with new starts, and in this book, “Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning,” Tom Vanderbilt writes about trying to learn five skills: chess, singing, surfing, drawing and juggling. He also interviews psychologists about the benefits of lifelong learning. Learn about his book in this video premiere about his mistakes — and newfound joys. By Jane Henderson

When 7 p.m. Jan. 13 • Where facebook.com/hectv • How much Free • More info slcl.org

Is Ace Atkins’ next Spenser novel taken from real life? Descriptions of the book (which goes on sale Jan. 12) say the Boston private investigator and his youthful assistant, Mattie, look into the sexual exploitation of underage girls by a billionaire and his “sadistic henchwoman with a mansion.” A video premiere should tell more (but not too much) about the upcoming thriller. By Jane Henderson

When 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14 • Where Zoom access at mohistory.org/events/emancipation-day-2020 • How much Free • More info mohistory.org

Emancipation Day, celebrated at various times across the country, represents the freedom of African Americans from slavery. A representative from Greenwood Cemetery will discuss some of the people who lived in and around St. Louis around the time of Missouri’s emancipation. This event is part of the Missouri History Museum’s “STL History Live” series. Greenwood Cemetery in Hillsdale, established in 1874, is the area’s first commercial and non-sectarian cemetery for African Americans. By Valerie Schremp Hahn