The Durham Museum Celebrates Christmas at Union Station
Time to trim the tree, bake some cookies, wrap those presents and, of course, visit The Durham Museum! Christmas at Union Station, presented by FNBO, is back for another year of festive fun. This long-standing tradition features Omaha’s official Christmas tree, holiday concerts and Santa himself. We have a combination of in-person and virtual experiences to help bring the magic of Christmas to Omaha!
Christmas at Union Station presented by FNBO is sponsored by Conagra Brands Foundation, Union Pacific, the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Memorial Foundation, OPPD and Mangelsen’s. Special thanks to DH Pace, Terry Hughes Tree Service, Omaha Police Department and Duke Aerial. Media support provided by KETV.
General Information
Holiday Hours (November 26-January 9)
Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM
Sunday, 12-4PM
Special Hours! Open Late 5-8PM for Family Nights with Santa on Tuesday, November 30 and December 7, 14 &21
Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Visitor Information
Fully vaccinated visitors are no longer required to wear a mask at the museum. Masks and social distancing are required for those who are not vaccinated. Family Nights with Santa and Noon Year’s Eve have limited capacity and required advanced registration. Advanced admission is highly recommended throughout the popular Christmas at Union Station Season. Reserve your entry time online or by phone.
Omaha’s Official Christmas Tree
See the region’s largest indoor Christmas Tree! Standing at over 40-feet-tall, this year’s tree was donated by Rosemary Synowiecki and her late husband Dinker of Omaha and will feature a special nod to Union Station’s 90th anniversary.
Here Comes Santa Claus
Last year’s Santa experience was so popular we are bringing it back again! Children can sit on Santa’s lap or give the big guy a call on our old-fashioned telephones…you choose! Santa will be at the museum six days a week, November 26-December 23! Tuesday-Saturday: 10AM-12PM and 1-3PM and Sunday: 12-3PM. Santa also visits Tuesday evenings during Family Night with Santa: 5-7PM.
Shine the Light on Hunger
Throughout the holiday season, you can drop off non-perishable food items at The Durham to help support the Food Bank for the Heartland as part of Conagra Brands Foundation’s Shine the Light on Hunger campaign. Please help us fight hunger in our community and assist those in greatest need!
Virtual Events
Tree Lighting Ceremony – Virtual Event
Thanksgiving Night – 7PM
Tune into our website, Facebook page or YouTube channel Thanksgiving night to watch our 40-foot-tall Christmas Tree come aglow for the holiday season. This 30-minute program features musical performances by the Boys Town Choir, a greeting from Santa and the countdown to the lighting of the region’s largest indoor Christmas Tree. All from the comfort of your couch!
Holiday Cultural Conversations – Virtual Event
Thursday, December 2, Noon-1PM
Love our annual Holiday Cultural Festival? Join us for a virtual spin on this popular event featuring an introduction to Christmas at Union Station traditions and the museum’s 40-foot, fully decorated tree. We will be joined again by our friends at the Tri-Faith Initiative for a closer look at holiday traditions across a variety of cultures. This event is free, but registration is required.
On Site Events
*Family Nights with Santa – On Site Events
Tuesdays, November 30, December 7, 14 & 21, 5-8PM
During the busy holiday season, The Durham Museum makes it easy for families to create special memories. Santa visits the museum on Tuesday evenings between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plus, be on the lookout for a snowfall in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Great Hall each Family Night at 7:50PM! Families can also take part in creating holiday crafts and enjoy live performances by local choirs and ensembles. Family Nights with Santa have limited capacity and require advanced registration. The museum will close at 4PM for general admissions and reopen at 5PM for these events.
Holiday Concert Series – On Site Event
Saturdays, Noon-1PM and Tuesday evenings, November 27 – December 21
Enjoy some of the area’s most beautiful holiday music under the glow of The Durham’s Christmas tree. Talented local entertainers perform as part of The Durham Museum’s holiday concert series. Visit DurhamMuseum.org for performance listings.
*Noon Year’s Eve – On Site Event
Friday, December 31, 10AM-2PM
Children of all ages will enjoy this fun-packed bash with live music from Dino O’Dell and the T-Rex All-Stars, special crafts and activities. Ring in the noon year in your handmade party hat while enjoying the celebratory bubble wrap stomp and a spectacular balloon drop at noon in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Great Hall. The Noon Year’s Eve event will have limited capacity and require advanced registration. Museum members will be allowed to reserve tickets in advance of the general public. Masks will be required for all visitors at the Noon Year’s Eve event. Tickets go on sale at 10AM December 17th to museum members and if available, to the general public at 10AM on December 20th.
Pick Up Your Party Bag Curbside – Museum Members Only!
Friday, December 31, 1-4PM
Whether you prefer to keep the party at home or you don’t get one of the limited spots for our Noon Year’s Eve event, we’ve got the ultimate party-in-a-bag for your family to ring in the New Year at home! (While supplies last.) Museum Members will be able to reserve a bag online and stop by on December 31, 1-4PM, to pick them up. We can bring your bags out to the curb so you can stay in your car.
Scouts-Only Family Night at The Durham Museum – On Site Event
Monday, November 29, 4–7PM
Scout families, enjoy the best of Christmas at Union Station complete with cookies, crafts and a scavenger hunt. Family-friendly, holiday-themed activities will make this a night to remember. Cost is $5/person (Scout, sibling or adult). Registration must be done in advance and payment is required upon registration. See our website for full details.
Holiday Exhibit on Display Through January 9, 2022
Season’s Greetings, Omaha!
The Durham has partnered with six local organizations this season to unwrap the joys their programs bring to the holidays. In festive displays, these institutions (El Museo Latino, Omaha Conservatory of Music, The Omaha Symphony, The Rose Theater, Great Plains Black History Museum and the Omaha Children’s Museum) will present tableaus of their programming and decoration for guests to discover. We hope this inspires visits to their sites and more!
