The Buffalo Bill Center of the West welcomes the community and surrounding region to its annual Holiday Open House on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

The event is free, but those attending are encouraged to share the holiday spirit by bringing a non-perishable food item or a new, still-packaged toy. Donations can be placed in the collection boxes near the main entrance. The Center distributes the food donations through area food pantries, and toys through Holiday Helpers.

The Center’s five museums — Buffalo Bill Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, Plains Indian Museum and Whitney Western Art Museum — will all be open. This year, four special, temporary exhibitions offer even more to explore: Fire on the Mountain: Photographs of Wildland Firefighting by Kyle Miller; Advertising the Frontier Myth: Poster Art of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West; Guns of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Performers & Other Cowboy Acts; and Best Seats on the Grounds: Behind the Scenes of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.

Santa Claus will be in attendance from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. He’ll be seated and ready to chat with children of all ages and hear their wishes. The Center decorates for the holidays and serves complimentary hot cocoa and candy canes during the event.

The Points West Market offers  savings of between 30%–75% off during the Holiday Open House (some exclusions apply). Every purchase includes a free poster of a cabin on the Thorofare.

As a special addition this year, the Center welcomes author, entrepreneur and Yellowstone area tour guide Bob Berry, who will be on hand at Points West Market both days for a book signing. On 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 only, in the Coe Auditorium, Berry will talk about the book “Yellowstone: Yesterday and Today,” which showcases more than 100 historic photos paired with modern views of the same location. The book is a collaboration between Berry and Paul Horsted, the photographer who took the modern views. The book is available for sale in Points West Market.

The live birds of the center’s Draper Museum Raptor Experience and their handlers present their popular “Relaxing with Raptors” program at 1 p.m. both days of the Open House in the Center’s Coe Auditorium.

For more information about the Holiday Open House, visit centerofthewest.org/event/holiday-open-house/. From Dec. 1–Feb. 28, the center operates on its winter schedule, open Thursday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.