The Southern Museum is rolling into the season with its annual All Aboard for Holiday Fun. The event takes over the museum for a full day of music, history, hands-on activities, and trains, which feels appropriate for a museum built around locomotives.
Regular museum admission covers most of the fun, so visitors can explore exhibits as usual while finding holiday surprises around nearly every corner.
Throughout the day, guests can enjoy live music that keeps things festive from morning through afternoon. Fiddler Doug Carson will perform throughout the event, adding a lively soundtrack as visitors move through the museum.
From 10 to 10:30 am, Smyrna United Methodist Church’s “Sounding Joy Handbells” will ring in the season with classic holiday tunes. Then from 11 am to 12 pm, Victorian carolers “Like the Dickens” will roam the museum, bringing old-fashioned holiday songs to life. It is about as close as one can get to stepping into a Christmas card without needing a time machine.
Victorian Traditions In The Cobb Gallery
The Cobb Gallery will highlight Victorian-era holiday traditions and stories connected to the Civil War period. Guests can hear about soldier life, dip candles, make cards, and watch wreathmaking demonstrations. Complimentary wassail will be available, adding a classic warm drink to the experience.
It is a chance to see how holidays looked in a different century, with activities that feel a bit more hands-on than scrolling through photos on a phone.
Crafts, Trains, And Outdoor Fun
In the Jolley Education Center, artisans will demonstrate holiday trades, giving visitors a look at skills that go far beyond clicking “add to cart.” A children’s craft area will be available so younger guests can take home something they made themselves.
Train fans will appreciate the festive layouts on display, complete with seasonal details that reward a closer look. Outside on the front lawn, the Kennesaw Museum Foundation will host additional activities, giving visitors a reason to step outdoors between exhibits and music sets.
Santa, The Caboose, And Admission Details
Santa will be on site from 10 am to 2 pm to greet families and hear holiday wishes. It is a convenient chance to grab a photo and update Santa on this year’s wish list without a trip to the mall.
For those who love railroads, The “Board the Caboose Experience” offers a special opportunity to tour the museum’s caboose for a $5 donation to the Kennesaw Museum Foundation. All other activities are included with regular museum admission.
Date:
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time:
9:30 am to 5 pm
Admission:
Included with regular museum admission: Adults $10, Seniors $8, Children $5. “Board the Caboose Experience” is a $5 donation to the Kennesaw Museum Foundation.
Address:
Southern Museum
2829 Cherokee Street NW
Kennesaw GA 30144
For more information, please contact the Southern Museum at (770) 427-2117.
