The Buffalo Bill Center of the West hosts its annual Holiday Open House — a free day that is a long-standing tradition in the Cody community — on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Holiday Open House is free, but families attending are encouraged to share the holiday spirit by bringing a non-perishable food item, still-packaged toy, dry pet food or pet toy item. Donations can be placed in the collection boxes located at the main entrance as well as the south entrance, which will be open for the special open house. Center staff will distribute the food donations through Cody food pantries, toys through local charitable organizations and pet items through the Park County Animal Shelter.

Local and regional groups perform for the crowds at the Holiday Open House, with entertainment running in several venues. The diverse programs offer something for everyone: music by choruses, carolers, honor choirs, jazz bands and instrumental quartets; dance in styles from ballet to modern, clogging to tap. All these performers generously volunteer their time and talent.

This year’s slate of performers includes the following groups: 40 Fabulous Fingers piano quartet, Alphabell Music, Brooks Robinson, Sheets Family Music, Absaroka Mountain Thunder, Cody Center for the Performing Arts, Sunlight Martial Arts, Rocky Mountain School of the Arts, Cody High School Jazz Band, Cody Middle School’s Cool Cougs band and Jazzical vocal ensemble, Yellowstone Harmony Chorus, Cody United Methodist Church Chapel Bell Choir and the honor choirs from Eastside, Sunset and Livingston elementary schools.

The full entertainment schedule with times and locations is posted online at
www.centerofthewest.org/calendar. While the schedule is subject to change and additions, updates will be posted on that page.

The center decks the halls for the occasion and serves up cookies and treats made by staff and volunteers. Santa Claus is in attendance all day to visit with children and hear their Christmas wishes. The Cody Reading Council also sets up shop near Santa to read favorite holiday stories. And printer and volunteer Mike Parker of Powell demonstrates printing and assists visitors in printing their own souvenir bookmarks to take home.

The birds of the Draper Museum Raptor Experience, one of the center’s most popular programs, get into the spirit of the season for the open house as well. Attendees can view the birds and ask questions of their handlers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Breezeway leading to the center’s Cody Firearms Museum.

The Center Store will also various promotions.

From Dec. 1 to Feb. 29, the center operates on its winter schedule, open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while being closed Monday through Wednesday.