ALBANY, NY.- Spring will come early to the New York State Museum February 20-22 when visitors will find more than 110 thematic floral displays positioned throughout the galleries for the 18th annual “New York in Boom” fundraiser benefiting the Museum’s award-winning after-school programs.

Open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, the event marks the only time during the year that admission is charged to enter the Museum. The “New York in Bloom” admission fee is $5 for adults on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday the fee will be $6, which also includes admission to the 16th annual “James Campbell Memorial Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show and Sale.” Admission is free for children 12 and under, accompanied by an adult. Tickets may be purchased at the door. National Grid is the presenting sponsor.

Garden club members, professional designers and floral enthusiasts from across the state will create unique floral arrangements for the event that complement and interpret the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions. “New York in Bloom” will also feature table arrangements provided by local interior designers and home furnishing stylists, florists and event specialists.

Demonstrations will be presented Saturday and Sunday in the Huxley Theater and Adirondack Hall. On Friday through Sunday children’s activities will be available in Kids Cove.

David Michael Schmidt of Renaissance Floral Design and Events will transform the front window area of the Museum lobby into a lavish garden, with materials donated by Renaissance. Bouquets will also be for sale at a fresh flower market in another area of the lobby.

Using flowers supplied by Seagroatt Riccardi, LTD, Steve Dominiak of Surroundings Floral Studio will design a floral display centered around a 1934 Ford Cabriolet in the Crossroads Gallery. Members of the Museum’s after-school program will create a quilt and fabric-related projects for an exhibit in the Museum’s quilt exhibition, Textural Rhythms: Constructing the Jazz Tradition. The students’ art work will be displayed around an African drum, the centerpiece of their exhibit.

Table arrangements will be designed by Kat’s Eye Design, Experience and Creative Design, The Floral Garden, Designs by Douglas, Antara Home Interiors, Henry F. Clas Florist, W&P Enterprises and Fleur De Lis.

On Friday through Sunday Classe′ Catering will offer soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts and beverages at the Sugar Maple Café in Adirondack Hall. Other food will also be available all three days at Subway, on the Museum’s fourth floor Terrace Gallery, and on Saturday and Sunday at Big Don’s Hot Dogs & More and Losee’s Deli in the Museum’s first floor Student Center.

Demonstrations on Saturday will include “Growing Healthy Perennials for 2009” and “Homestyle Floral Arrangements," 10 to 11 a.m.; “Wildflowers: Faces, Facts & Folklore,” and “Edible Arrangements,” 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; “Crazy Carnations,” 1 to 2 p.m.; “262,000 Bulbs,” and Creating Stepping Stones,” 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and “Gardening in the 21st Century” 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday demonstrations will include

“Wildflowers of Mexico’s Copper Canyon Region,” 10 to 11 a.m.; “Simple Organic Vegetable Gardening” and “How to Structure Larger Arrangements,” 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; “Prepping for a Flower Show,” 1 to 2 p.m.; “Edible Art” and Michele’s Flower Hour,” 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Children’s activities on Friday include: “Shrink Art,” 10 a.m. to noon and “Flower Button,” 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Face Painting will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

“New York in Bloom” is a primary funding source for the nationally recognized, educational after-school programs -- the Museum Club and Discovery Squads. Since 1987 the after-school program has provided tutoring and educational enrichment opportunities for youths from Albany’s underserved neighborhoods. Students receive homework help and reading support and participate in interactive projects involving Museum exhibitions. In the Discovery Squad teens receive essential job training, academic and personal support, explore higher education opportunities and serve the Museum in a variety of work-based capacities.