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The Durham Museum Celebrates Christmas at Union Station

11/11/24

Christmas at Union Station presented by FNBO
November 29, 2024 through January 12, 2025

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.

Christmas at Union Station presented by FNBO is sponsored by Conagra Brands Foundation, Union Pacific, OPPD, Mangelsen’s and Douglas County, Nebraska. Special thanks to DH Pace & Norm’s Door Service, Terry Hughes Tree Service, Omaha Police Department and Duke Aerial. Media support provided by KETV.

Omaha’s Official Christmas Tree
See the region’s largest indoor Christmas tree! Standing at 40-feet-tall, this year’s tree was donated by Mark and Joanie Maszk of Omaha.

Schedule of Events

*Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, November 29, 4-8PM

(Tree Lighting happens at about 7PM)
Christmas at Union Station presented by FNBO festivities kick off with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony! Enjoy loads of entertainment including live music from Camille Metoyer Moten, a performance by Bellevue Little Theater, cookie decorating, a scavenger hunt and holiday crafts, plus Santa himself! All the good tidings lead up to the signature tradition of the night — the countdown to lighting the region’s largest indoor Christmas tree!

Due to limited capacity, advanced registration is encouraged. Register at DurhamMuseum.org anytime or call 402-444-5071 by Wednesday, November 27. If space allows, walk-up tickets will be available at the door.

Visit Santa’s Cabin
Are your kids ready to share their carefully curated list with Santa? Visit our jolly pal from the North Pole at his cozy cabin retreat! Children can choose to sit with Santa or give him a call on our old-fashioned telephone. Santa’s elves will be at the switchboard to make sure you get connected to the big guy himself.

  • November 22 – December 22:
    Fridays-Saturdays, 10AM-Noon & 1-3PM; and Sundays from Noon-3PM
  • Bonus weekdays before Christmas! December 17, 18, 19 & 23

Santa also visits during the Tree Lighting Ceremony, the Holiday Cultural Festival and Tuesday evenings for Family Nights with Santa.

Family Nights with Santa
Tuesdays, December 3, 10 & 17, 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. Share your wish list with the big guy, listen to live performances by local musicians, create crafts and take part in the FNBO Elfie Scavenger Hunt. We’ll close out the night with indoor snowfall under the glow of our magnificent tree! Please note, the museum closes at 4PM for general admissions and reopens at 5PM for Family Nights.

*Holiday Cultural Festival
Friday, December 6, 4-9PM
Holiday greetings from around the world! Learn how the world celebrates this joyful time of year during the Holiday Cultural Festival. With over 30 groups participating, local cultural organizations proudly display their crafts and traditional dress, while musicians and dancers perform throughout the evening. Hard-to-find foods and gifts available for purchase.

Holiday Concert Series
November 30 – December 21
Saturdays: 10AM-3PM; and Tuesday evenings: 5-8PM
Enjoy some of the area’s most delightful holiday music under the glow of The Durham’s Christmas tree. Talented local entertainers perform as part of the concert series. Visit DurhamMuseum.org for performance listings.

*Noon Year’s Eve
Tuesday, December 31, 10AM-2PM
Happy “Noon” Year! Get an early start on your New Year’s celebration at this family-friendly event. Children of all ages will enjoy a 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.

Due to limited capacity, advanced registration is highly encouraged. Tickets go on sale at 9AM Monday, December 2. Register anytime online or call 402-444-5071 by December 30 to save your spot. If space allows, walk-up tickets will be available at the door.

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!

*EVENT PARKING: During select events overflow parking, with shuttle drop-off at the museum, is available at the Conagra Brands parking lot, 7th & Leavenworth Streets.

 

Holiday Displays

Log Cabin Christmas
Saturdays, November 30 – December 28, 10AM-Noon
Visit our log cabin replica for a special look at how pioneers on the Great Plains celebrated the holidays. A docent will be present to show guests how the pioneers decorated, celebrated and gave gifts during their difficult winters on the prairie.

Holiday Cultural Trees Display
November 29, 2024 – January 12, 2025
A holiday favorite returns to The Durham’s galleries! The display is one of the enduring fixtures of the season and showcases how cultures from around the world celebrate the season. Each tree is decorated by a local Omaha cultural group and is accompanied by interpretative text explaining the meaning behind the various decorations and unique traditions of each culture.

Holiday Shopping

Museum Store Sunday
Sunday, December 1 • Noon-4PM
Shop with purpose and save! As a thank you for shopping during Museum Store Sunday, The Durham Museum is extending their employee/volunteer discount of 25% off. But wait, there’s more! Take your museum shop receipt to our old-fashioned Soda Fountain and enjoy a “sweet” 25% off your order. (Museum Store Sunday discount is not valid with any other discounts or promotions.)

Give the Gift of Museum Membership
A Durham Museum membership is the gift that can be enjoyed all year long! Purchase online at DurhamMuseum.org/membership or at the museum when you visit.

General Information

Museum Hours

  • Open six days a week: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM, and Sunday, Noon-4PM
  • Closed: Mondays (except 12/23 & 12/30), Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
  • Special Hours! Open late on Tuesdays, 5-8PM for Family Nights with Santa: December 3, 10 & 17. Open the last two Mondays in December (23 & 30), 10AM-4PM. Open Christmas Eve, 10AM-2PM.

Museum Admission

  • Admission is free for museum members and children ages 2 and under. Non-member admission, tax not included, is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and military/veterans and $8 for children ages 3-12. Admission also provides access to the museum’s featured exhibitions, The Lost World of Dragons and Beyond Combat: World War I Through the Lens of “Doc” Cook.