On Friday, Nov. 25, otherwise known as “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving when many people flock to the malls, The Works in Newark is hosting its annual Holiday Traditions event.

Susan Leithauser, director of development for The Works, 55 S. First St., said to think of it as a historic break from shopping.

The event’s theme is “A Civil War Christmas” in honor of Licking County’s yearlong Civil War sesquicentennial commemoration. It will reflect some of the festiveness of the era that existed between the battlefields, Leithauser said. The Civil War-themed displays and activities combine the history, art, and technology of the Civil War period.

“It really ties to the mission of The Works,” she said.

“A Civil War Christmas” will feature dulcimer and guitar music from “A’Chording to Tradition” and will include several hands-on themed activities, including natural material craft projects, holiday lights science shows and the creation of blown glass ornaments.

George Johnson, co-curator of “150 Years of Trims and Treasures,” a display of historic holiday artifacts, will partner with professional glass artist Lawrence Tuber, to present the history and “how to” of glass-blown ornaments. While Johnson speaks on the origin and evolution of holiday ornaments, Tuber will create German-inspired glass-blown ornaments. Guests are invited to get hands-on to create their own ornaments.

Leithauser said that like all The Works’ exhibits, the Civil War-themed displays and activities are distributed throughout the museum among other displays, and not all clustered in one space.

This is apparent in the museum’s second-floor “Land of Legend Shops,” which is a recreation of a historic downtown lane, lined with storefronts. Each storefront has a unique display, featuring holiday gifts and ornaments, not only from the Civil War era, but also Victorian, WWII, and even into the 1960s.

“The Land of Legend Shops are a great way to take this all in,” Leithauser said.

She said The Works is featuring several “Civil War Reflections,” or Civil War-themed displays, including “The Art of War” and “150 Years of Trims and Treasures,” through Jan. 8

According to The Works’ website, “The Art of War” exhibit brings the yearlong commemoration of Licking County’s role in the Civil War to a close by celebrating the achievements of Newark inventor Joseph Rider and featuring period paintings from artist Dale Gallon.

Weapon collectors revere Rider’s work, but the man who saved E. Remington & Sons from bankruptcy in the years following the Civil War is largely unknown in the town where he lived and worked for 50 years, according to the website. Rider spent his time tinkering, thinking, inventing, improving, and not self-promoting. As an inventor, his weaponry patents altered the future of weapon production.

Leithauser said the Holiday Traditions event pulls all the displays together for an afternoon — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — and offers visitors even more entertainment and activities than they’d normally experience.

“There’s more to do,” she said. “It’s a good break from Black Friday.”