Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens presents its traditional winter flower show themed “The Nutcracker, A Fresh Arrangement” through Sunday. Poinsettias, amaryllis and ivy along with twinkling lights and aromatic greens will deck the halls. Cut trees are decorated to symbolize the different dances of the “The Nutcracker” ballet. The conservatory at One Schenley Park is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for senior citizens and for students with valid ID, $9 for children ages 2 to 18, and free for children younger than 2. Call 412-622-6914 or visit http://phipps.conservatory.org.

Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., continues “Stars and Stripes: An American Story” through June 17. The center is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens, $5 for students with ID and for children ages 4 to 17, and free for children 3 and younger. Call 412-454-6000 or visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org.

ToonSeum, Pittsburgh’s Museum of Cartoon Art at 945 Liberty Ave., presents more than 50 pieces of original comic strip art all from April 11, 2010. The exhibit is a who’s who of the modern American comics, featuring Garfield, Beetle Bailey and Doonsebury, among others. The exhibit runs through the end of January in the ToonSeum’s Lou Scheimer Gallery. Admission is $4 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Call 412-232-0199 or visit www.toonseum.org. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Carnegie Science Center, North Side, has the Miniature Railroad and Village open for the season, and the new laser show “Holiday Magic,” which runs through Sunday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Fridays. Admission is $17.95 for adults and $11.95 for children ages 3 to 12. Most activities are included in the admission price, but some, like Omnimax films, cost extra. Call 412-237-3400.

Children’s Museum, 10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square, presents “How People Make Things” through Feb. 5, and “Tough Art” through Jan. 16. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundayss. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for children ages 2 to 18 and senior citizens, and free for children younger than 2. Call 412-322-5058 or visit www.pittsburghkids.org.

National Aviary, 700 Arch St., is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $13 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, $11 for children ages 2 to 12, and free for children younger than 2. Call 412-323-7235 or visit www.aviary.org.