Cookeville Depot Christmas Open House is Dec. 3

What: Cookeville Depot Christmas Open House

When: Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: Cookeville Depot Museum, 116 W. Broad St., Cookeville

 

Photo cutline: Citizens gather at the Cookeville Depot for the museum’s annual Christmas Open House.

 

Cookeville Depot aims for shorter wait times during Christmas open house

 

Waiting can be difficult – especially for little ones eager to share Christmas wishes with Santa.

 

With that in mind, the Cookeville Depot Museum is trying something new this Saturday in an effort to reduce wait times during its Christmas open house, which attracts hundreds of families each year.

 

“We’re dividing people into groups so they won’t have to wait in line so long,” Cookeville museums manager Beth Thompson said. “We’ll stamp their hand so they can do other activities until their group is called.”

 

The event – this year themed “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Santa taking a cookie break from noon to 1 p.m.

 

In addition to visiting the jolly man in red and his elves, attendees can see a live reindeer and new model train, enjoy cookies and cider, and participate in caroling, Christmas karaoke and games like Santa beanbag toss and snowball wreath toss.

 

“People have been coming to the Cookeville Depot Christmas Open House for years and years,” Thompson said. “It’s become a tradition.”

 

The depot, constructed by the Tennessee Central Railway in 1909, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 116 W. Broad St. Admission is free. Call 931-528-8570 to learn more.