NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM HOLDS ANNUAL “HOLIDAY HAPPENING” FESTIVITIES DEC. 6

Holidays around the world will be the theme of the eighth annual Holiday Happening at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. This family-friendly event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6. Museum admission is free during the event, and museum visitors will enjoy live holiday music, storytelling, crafts and shopping throughout the evening. In addition, the museum will be accepting donations of food and toys on behalf of Food and Shelter for Friends through the evening. Each donation will earn a chance for the donor to win a drawing for a $50 gift certificate from Excavations, the museum store. The event is sponsored by Arvest Bank.

Santa Claus will be present to hear children’s holiday wishes and pose for pictures. Visitors may take their own photos at no charge or purchase a photo provided by Colorband Photography Studio. The museum’s Discovery Room will be open and the education department will offer hands-on craft activities.

Excavations, the museum store, will offer special one-night-only discounts. Visitors will be able to reach into a discount “grab bag” at the store register and draw for discounts of up to 40 percent on their entire purchase. Excavations offers a wide variety of truly unique gifts including one-of-a-kind jewelry, educational toys, international holiday decorations and home décor items.

The evening’s entertainment will include live music provided the McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church hand bell choir, performances by members of the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company, African drumming and storytelling with Jahruba, and children’s activities with Gymboree of Norman. The museum’s Redbud Café also will be open, offering cider, hot chocolate, gourmet coffees and snacks.

“Arvest Bank is a dedicated partner for the communities in which we serve,” said Kelly Brander, president and CEO for Arvest Bank. “We are proud to be a sponsor of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History’s Holiday Happening event.”

Through the evening, and for two weeks in advance, the museum is accepting donations of toys and non-perishable food items on behalf of Food and Shelter for Friends for their annual holiday party. Donations can be brought to the museum any time during regular museum hours from Friday, Nov. 23 through Holiday Happening on Dec. 6. Food and Shelter for Friends is a non-profit organization that maintains eight shelters for homeless individuals and families in Norman. The organization also provides free community lunches, assistance with rent and utility payments, children’s programs and other services to help prevent homelessness and help the needy in Norman to achieve independence. Each year, Food and Shelter for Friends provides a holiday party for all those in its care and the donations collected during the museum’s Holiday Happening event help make their party a success. Everyone who brings a donation to the museum will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 gift certificate to Excavations, the museum store. The drawing will take place at Holiday Happening. You must be present to win.

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is located on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus. For more information, call (405) 325-4712, or visit the museum’s Web site at www.snomnh.ou.edu.

Schedule of Events

Santa Claus sees children in the Pleistocene Plaza
6 - 6:45 p.m.
7 - 7:45 p.m.
8 - 8:45 p.m.

6 to 8:30 p.m.
Crafts in the Great Hall
Gymboree games, second floor landing
Gymboree face painting, Great Hall

6 to 6:45 p.m.
Cimarron Circuit Opera Company performance in the Great Hall

7 to 7:45 p.m.
McFarlin Handbell Choir performance, Great Hall

8 p.m.
Drawing for $50 Excavations gift certificate (you must be present to win)

8 to 8:45 p.m.
Jahruba performance, Great Hall

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