Las Vegas Natural History Museum Showcasing Global Holiday Traditions
It’s the holiday season in Southern Nevada, and there’s only one way to celebrate when your passion is history. With a showcase featuring holiday traditions from around the globe. The Las Vegas Natural History Museum has transformed into a global celebration of holiday traditions with its annual museum-curated, community-created exhibition, A December to Remember.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum Celebrates The 2024 Holiday Season
From November 14 through December 31, A December to Remember will be on display at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. There will also be cultural workshops by local community groups and civic organizations, beginning November 29. Each group will be showcasing unique holiday customs from various local ethnic groups and religious cultures. While the entire exhibit features global holiday traditions and celebrations.
Workshops and performances will be held in various exhibit halls throughout the month. Community group partners include Ellis Rice, Gina Cifonelli, Sarah Lohman, Meri Howard, Krysan Williams, Xochil Xitlalli, and more.
The December to Remember exhibit is a wonderful experience, especially for children. Grace Njoroge, Education Director at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, said in a press release “We see children discovering how their classmates celebrate Las Posadas, how their neighbors observe Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, or how different cultures mark the winter solstice.”
The hands-on, in-person experience that the Las Vegas Natural History Museum is offering leads to real understanding of other cultures in a way that just can’t be learned or connected to in a book. Visitors can learn about holiday customs from various ethnic and religious cultures including Kwanzaa, Meri Lwyd, the Presipio, Winter Solstice, the History of the Christmas Cookie, and more.
Special Reception, Donation Drive, And Museum Hours
There will also be a reception on Friday, December 6 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The the family-friendly event is open to the public and will feature several holiday exhibits on display with the opportunity to meet the creators. There will also be winter-themed science activities, photos with Santa, and more. Additionally, a donation drive to benefit Three Square Food Bank will be on site. Entry to the event is available by donating one item per person from a list of products.
Personal hygiene products on the list include toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, bar soap, deodorant, shaving products, travel size toiletries. Baby products needed include diapers, baby wipes (baby formula is also accepted; however, it must have a 90+ day shelf life). Or guests can donate paper cleaning items, including toilet paper, paper towels, plastic storage bags (e.g., baggies/Ziploc bags), disposable eating utensils.
A December to Remember exhibition is included with guests’ museum admission or membership. It will be on display until December 31, 2024 (excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas Day). The museum is located north of Cashman Center at 900 Las Vegas Blvd N. and open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas). General admission tickets are priced at $14 per adult and $7 for children ages 3-11. Tickets can be purchased at the door or on the Las Vegas Natural History Museum website.
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5 Expert Tips For Navigating Holiday Travel Delays
1. Fly At Off-Peak Times
One way to avoid potential travel delays is to fly at off-peak times. Overnight and early morning flights are always less crowded.
The most popular times to travel is from afternoon into the late evening. Therefore, try to book an early morning flight. Those are less prone to delays and very often have smaller crowds and shorter security lines. Redeyes are also often light on passengers. For long flights, it might even be helpful to book an overnighter that your kids can sleep on. They won’t be bored and you won’t be stressed about getting through the crowds. It’s a win-win!
2. Fly A Few Days Before The Holiday
While it won’t be this empty in an airport a few days before the holidays, it will be far less crowded than flying out the day before or the day of Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Due to work, school or other demands, most of the world has to travel for the holidays the day before or the day of. Experts advise travelers to try to book a flight at least a few days before Thanksgiving or Christmas to avoid the rush. The same goes for flying home. Pick a few days after the holiday for the easier time spent in the terminal. You might have to take extra time off, but it might be worth avoiding the headache.
3. Pack Smart
Travel delays don’t have to mean meltdowns with the kids. Bringing snacks from home is one way to keep them happy and entertained.
If travel delays are inevitable, experts advise that packing smart is the difference between stress-free travel and total chaos. Bring your own snacks and empty water bottle to fill up after getting through security. This will eliminate the need to get in long lines for food or drink. For my kiddo, I pack a Snackle Box and don’t let them see it until the flight. So everything’s a fun surprise.
4. Don't Make Plans Too Close To Your Flight
Nothing is more stressful than flight delays when you have to be somewhere. Easy solution: don’t make plans the same day you’re traveling. Problem solved.
If you have to be somewhere shortly after your flight is supposed to land, then timing is everything. The way to NOT make timing everything is to allow plenty of it on the other side of your flight. Make a whole day for travel, if you can. That gives you the whole day to get to where you need to be, settle in, and refresh before hitting the holiday plans with the family. Don’t make 7:00 dinner plans when your flight comes in at 6:00pm. That just sets you up for failure.
5. Bring Things To Keep Busy
Travel delays seem much shorter when you keep yourself and your littles entertained. Downloading movies before you leave the house is the best backup plan.
This is especially necessary if you have little ones. Download movies or apps before heading to the airport, and don’t forget the chargers! If you want to mix it up and use fewer electronics during potential travel delays, there are lots of downloadable game cards like airport bingo or scavenger hunts. And don’t be afraid to go old school with those travel board games. They’re time-consuming and take up little space in the carry on.
