September 2019 Siouxland Kids Events

Each month we will bring you info on family friendly events and activities in the Siouxland Area. If you know of one we have missed, please leave us a comment or send us an email. We will update our lists throughout the month as we hear of new things to do in Sioux City and our surrounding communities, so check back often for the latest scoop! We also recommend checking out our Event Lists tab to find our lists for other months.

Free Events in Siouxland

• Sun 9/1
• Mon 9/2
• Labor Day: many area attractions closed, so be sure to check with individual venues before planning to go somewhere this day. 
• 4-5:30pm: Family Movie at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Tues 9/3
• 11am: Storytime at the Perry Creek Branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• 4-5:30pm: Family Movie at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Weds 9/4
• 10:30am: Storytime at the Morningside Branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Thurs 9/5
• 10am: Pat-a-Cake Pals at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Fri 9/6
• 10-11am: Toddler Time at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Sat 9/7
• 9am-noon: Home Depot Kids Building Workshop: Scarecrow Planters, registration online recommended to ensure a kit for your child(ren), best for ages 5-12
• 11am: One-Millionth Storytime celebration at Barnes & Noble with a brand new Dr. Seuss book, a crayon giveaway while supplies last, and more! 

• Sun 9/8
• Mon 9/9
• 4-5:30pm: Family Movie at the South Sioux City Public Library
• 4-5pm: Super Builders Lego club at North Sioux City Community Library, must call (605)422-2366 if not already part of the club (attendance limited to ensure adequate bricks for everyone who comes, but they have several clubs and try to find room for as many kids as they can!)
• Tues 9/10
• 10am: Nature Tales at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center for preschoolers with an adult caregiver, please register by calling (712)258-0838 or by e-mailing TKruid@WoodburyParks.org
• 11am: Storytime at the Perry Creek Branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Weds 9/11
• 10:30am: Storytime at the Morningside Branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Thurs 9/12
• 10am: Pat-a-Cake Pals at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Fri 9/13
• 10am: Toddler Time at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Sat 9/14
• 10-11:30am: Family Movie at the South Sioux City Public Library
• 10am-4pm: Art in the Park at Latham Park, featuring food trucks, live entertainment, and lots of art from a variety of mediums

• Sun 9/15
• Mon 9/16
• 4-5:30pm: Family Movie at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Tues 9/17
• 11am: Storytime at the Perry Creek Branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• 11:30am:  Beginner Lego club at North Sioux City Community Library for ages 3-5, call (605)422-2366 to register
• Weds 9/18
• 10:30am: Storytime at the Morningside Branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Thurs 9/19
• 10am: Pat-a-Cake Pals at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Fri 9/20
• 10am: Toddler Time at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Sat 9/21
• 10am: Family Movie at the South Sioux City Public Library
• 1-4pm: Kindness Rocks rock painting event hosted by the Original Siouxland Rocks Facebook group at the Sioux City Public Museum

• Sun 9/22
• Mon 9/23
• 4-5:30pm: Family Movie at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Tues 9/24
• 11am: Storytime at the Perry Creek Branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Weds 9/25
• 10:30am: Storytime at the Morningside Branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Thurs 9/26
• 10am: Pat-a-Cake Pals at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Fri 9/27
• 10am: Toddler Time at the South Sioux City Public Library
• Sat 9/28
• 10am: Family Movie at the South Sioux City Public Library

• Sun 9/29
• Mon 9/30
• 4-5pm: Club Creative  Lego club at North Sioux City, for grades K-6, must call (605)422-2366
• 4-5:30pm: Family Movie at the South Sioux City Public Library

Paid Events in Siouxland

• Sun 9/1
• Sioux City Art Center's ArtSplash at Riverside Park
• 1pm: STEAM Explorers at LaunchPad Children's Museum (included with daily admission or membership)
• Mon 9/2
• Tues 9/3
• Weds 9/4
• 9:30am: Baby Braniacs at LaunchPad Children's Museum (included with daily admission or membership)
• Thurs 9/5
• 5:30pm: Farm-tastic Learning at LaunchPad Children's Museum (included with daily admission or membership)
• Fri 9/6
• 3:30m: Kinder Kickstarters at LaunchPad Children's Museum (included with daily admission or membership)
• Sat 9/7
• 10:30am-noon: Saturday Art Lesson: Mixed Media Collages at the Sioux City Art Center, $7 per child
• 1pm: STEAM Explorers at LaunchPad Children's Museum (included with daily admission or membership)

• Sun 9/8
• 1pm: STEAM Explorers at LaunchPad Children's Museum (included with daily admission or membership)
• Mon 9/9
• Tues 9/10
• Weds 9/11
• Thurs 9/12
• Fri 9/13
• 7:30pm: Young Frankenstein at the Sioux City Community Theater
• Sat 9/14
• 10am-7pm: Sunflower Festival at Scarecrow Farm, more details here.
• 10:30am-noon: Saturday Art Lesson: Recycled Metal Owls at the Sioux City Art Center, $7 per child
• 1-2:30pm: Painting in the Studio: Bouquet of Sunflowers at the Sioux City Art Center, $10 per project
• 7:30pm: Young Frankenstein at the Sioux City Community Theater

• Sun 9/15
• 10am-7pm: Sunflower Festival at Scarecrow Farm, more details here. 
• 2pm: Young Frankenstein at the Sioux City Community Theater
• Mon 9/16
• Tues 9/17
• Weds 9/18
• Thurs 9/19
• Fri 9/20
• 7:30pm: Young Frankenstein at the Sioux City Community Theater
• Sat 9/21
• 10:30am-noon: Saturday Art Lesson: Hot Air Balloons at the Sioux City Art Center, $7 per child
• 7:30pm: Young Frankenstein at the Sioux City Community Theater

• Sun 9/22
• 2pm: Young Frankenstein at the Sioux City Community Theater
• Mon 9/23
• Tues 9/24
• Weds 9/25
• Thurs 9/26
• 7:30pm: Young Frankenstein at the Sioux City Community Theater
• Fri 9/27
• 7:30pm: Young Frankenstein at the Sioux City Community Theater
• Sat 9/28
• 10:30am-noon: Saturday Art Lesson: Clay Monsters at the Sioux City Art Center, $7 per child
• 1-2:30pm: Painting in the Studio: Migrating Ducks at the Sioux City Art Center, $10 per project
• 7:30pm: Young Frankenstein at the Sioux City Community Theater

• Sun 9/29
• 2pm: Young Frankenstein at the Sioux City Community Theater
• Mon 9/30

We do not run any of these events and encourage you to call or visit the websites of the hosting locations, organizations, or stores with any questions and to confirm details. Many paid events and some free events require tickets or registration in advance and some may sell out or fill up quickly or very far in advance. Age and other recommendations are general guidelines provided by the event or activity organizer and should not be considered legal or medical advice and may not apply well to all children.

Siouxland Sunflower Festival

Sunflower lovers rejoice: Scarecrow Farm in Lawton, Iowa is hosting their first ever Sunflower Festival this September! Here's the scoop on how Siouxland area families and visitors can enjoy this fun event:

When is Sunflower Festival?

Sunflower Festival 2019 at Scarecrow Farm will be Saturday September 14th & Sunday September 15th, 2019 from 10am to 7pm.

Where is Sunflower Festival?

Sunflower Festival is held at Scarecrow Farm in Lawton, Iowa, about 10 minutes past the Sioux City Menards on Highway 20.

What can you do at Sunflower Festival?

At Sunflower Festival at Scarecrow Farm, there will be a wide variety of fun, including

• Lots of sunflowers! The center circle of Scarecrow Farm where pumpkins ready to buy are placed during pumpkin season has been taken over as a sunflower field, plus there are several more acres of sunflowers beyond that! Besides enjoying the view and taking photos, you can also buy sunflowers to take home with you. Each ticket includes one free sunflower. 
• Live music and entertainment 
• Morning yoga in the sunflower field
• Pony rides
• Kid-powered tractor pull
• New Kakashi Warrior ninja course for kids
• All of Scarecrow Farm's fun permanent attractions including a giant corn box, bounce pillow, playground, pirate ship, trike track, and more.
• Food and drink for sale, including turkey legs, root beer floats, chocolate chip cookies, and kettle corn
• Farm Market open to buy jams, jellies, honey, squash, and other locally produced goodies to take home with you

How to get tickets to Sunflower Festival at Scarecrow Farm

Tickets to Sunflower Festival at Scarecrow Farm are $11.95 (plus tax) for each person 3+. Toddlers and babies who are 2 or younger can attend for free!

You can buy tickets to Sunflower Festival at the door, but if you'd prefer to buy ahead of time, you can buy tickets on the Scarecrow Farm website. Even better, there's a special discount code for tickets bought before September 13th, 2019. Type in the code "EarlyBird" to get $2 off tickets purchased before that date! 

For more information

To find out more about Sunflower Festival, check out the Scarecrow Farm website or Facebook page. You can also see my Scarecrow Farm post from 2017 to see more of the family-friendly fun you could enjoy there!

More Sunflowers

Want to see even more sunflowers? Here are some great posts from other Midwest bloggers about sunflower festivals across the region:

• St. Louis Sunflowers from And Hattie Makes Three
• Sunflower Maze at Eckert's Farm in Belleville, Illinois from Cornfields & High Heels

What's New in Siouxland Summer 2019

If you've lived in Sioux City very long, or even visited much, you might think you've seen all there is to see. But there's actually tons of new fun to discover! Here are some of the top new exhibits, attractions, and upgrades in Siouxland for summer 2019:


Want more details? Keep reading: 

What's New

Wells Blue Bunny Visitors Center and Ice Cream Parlor

Captivating soda jerk feature in the newly renovated ice cream parlor

New rooftop garden at the Blue Bunny Parlor

The iconic Wells Blue Bunny Parlor in the company's hometown (and ice cream capitol of the world!), LeMars, Iowa, just about a half hour north of Sioux City, has been totally renovated with new interactive displays, a rooftop dining area, and gorgeous décor that provides the perfect background for enjoying their delicious ice cream and other treats. The Wells Blue Bunny Visitors Center and Ice Cream Parlor re-opened early in June 2019, and for more info on the updates there, you can check out my Wells Blue Bunny Visitors Center and Ice Cream Parlor post!

Bandits and Heroes exhibit at the Sioux City Public Museum

This summer, catch the new exhibit "Bandits and Heroes" at the Sioux City Public Museum to learn about the history and culture of northeast Brazil. In this region, indigenous people, African slaves, and European colonists (mostly Portuguese and Spanish) came together, some by choice and many by force. They blended their artistic, musical, and religious traditions to form a unique culture. At the Bandits and Heroes exhibit at the Sioux City Public Museum, you get a colorful taste of the result. For more information, check out my post about the Bandits and Heroes exhibit at the Sioux City Public Museum.

Toddler Playground at Miracle Field

Miracle Field at Riverside Park was already one of Sioux City's best places to play, and they've taken it up another notch by adding a toddler playground. The adorable small-scale play structures are just perfect for the under-5 crowd, and to the delight of parents, the new toddler play area is completely fenced in with only one way out!

Also new at Miracle Field this summer is a really fun, wheelchair-accessible spinning toy, a shade cover over the musical playground, and two new swings! Want to know more about Miracle Field? Check out my Miracle Field overview.

Missouri River Trail plaque

Since at least the early 1800's, fur trappers and native Americans followed a route through Siouxland, along the Missouri River, and in the early 1900's, a plaque was placed marking part of that trail, in what is now War Eagle Park. Over time, that plaque was lost. Sioux City historians recently uncovered the rock, and were able to order a replacement plaque from the same foundry where the original was forged! Now, visitors can see the rock and plaque, along with a nearby information plaque about the park. For more information on War Eagle Park, check out my War Eagle Monument and Park post.

Rose Hill Park and Splash Pad

Firetruck waterslide at Rose Hill

Firetruck play structure

Sioux City's newest splash pad is also its cutest, with a firefighting theme that extends through the splash pad and accompanying play structures. A fire truck that's really a waterslide and Dalmatians that spray water captivate the imagination and soak the swimsuits of all who visit! You can find out about all of who visit. You can find out about all of Sioux City's splash pads, including Rose Hill, in my Sioux City splash pad post.

Siouxland Artists Exhibition at the Sioux City Art Center

The Siouxland Artists Exhibition at the Sioux City Art Center is on the second floor of the Sioux City Art Center and puts the focus on local artists with pieces from a variety of mediums. Catch it quickly if you're interested, because it won't be here long--the Siouxland Artists Exhibition will be on display through September 1st.

Morningside Branch of the Sioux City Public Library

The Morningside Branch of the Sioux City Public Library was completely renovated over winter and spring, and is now officially re-opened to the public! Highlights include a colorful kids area anchored by a tree, a teen area with comfy seating, new computers, new self-checkout kiosks, several small meeting/work rooms, and a huge room for storytimes, classes, and other special events!

Coming Soon:

"Best of" exhibits at the Sioux City Art Center

Step into the past of the Sioux City Art Center as two exhibits open this summer and fall featuring some favorite works from earlier years of the Sioux City Art Center. The first, "Best of 1938-1988" will open on July 21s, while the second, "Best of 1988-2008" will open this September. 

The 2019 Woodbury County Fair

Kids Photography Contest entries and ribbons at the 2018 Woodbury County Fair

Every year there is fresh fun at the Woodbury County Fair, and 2019 is no exception! The 2019 Woodbury County Fair in Moville, Iowa, about 15 minutes east of Sioux City, will feature several new acts, plus several new competitions, including the "Trash to Treasure" upcycling challenge and a "Barns of Woodbury County" division of the photography contest. Head over to my 2019 Woodbury County Fair post for full details on this year's fair.

Sunflower Festival

Scarecrow Farm is full of so many fun activities for all ages including this Small, Small World zone for preschoolers!

Scarecrow Farm in Lawton, Iowa, about 10 minutes east of Sioux City, is hosting their first ever sunflower festival, on September 14th and 15th, 2019. The Sunflower Festival will include live music, family-friendly fun, delicious food, and tons of beautiful sunflowers, for $12 per person 3 years and older. More details coming soon!

Sioux City is always changing and upgrading, so keep your eyes open for new fun! I'll try to share it when I see it too!

August 2019 Siouxland Kids Activities

Each month we will bring you info on family friendly events and activities in the Siouxland Area. If you know of one we have missed, please leave us a comment or send us an email. We will update our lists throughout the month as we hear of new things to do in Sioux City and our surrounding communities, so check back often for the latest scoop! We also recommend checking out our Event Lists tab to find our lists for other months.

Free Events in Siouxland

• Thurs 8/1
• All Day: FREE admission to LaunchPad Children's Museum 
• All Day: FREE admission to the Woodbury County Fair for kids under 12
• 10:30am: Teen Book Club at the downtown branch of the Sioux City Public Library, registration required
• 2-4pm: Legos at the Library at the downtown branch of the Sioux City Public Library, drop-in event for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade
• Fri 8/2
• 10am: Family Movie: Ralph Wrecks the Internet at the downtown branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Sat 8/3
• 9am-noon: Kids Building Workshop: Rocket Pencil Box at Home Depot, register online to ensure they have a kit for you
• 11am: The Pigeon Has to Go to School storytime at Barnes & Noble
• 2pm: The Tale of Emily Windsnap book event at Barnes & Noble (book recommended for kids 8-12)

• Sun 8/4
• 11am: Baby & Me Storytime at Barnes & Noble
• Mon 8/5
• Tues 8/6
• 11am: Storytime at the Perry Creek Branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Weds 8/7
• 9-11am: Birding Hike at Southwood Conservation Area near Smithland, IA, hosted by Woodbury County Conservation
• 10:30am: Storytime at the Morningside Branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Thurs 8/8
• 10am: Atlatl ancient weapon learning event at Little Sioux Park near Correctionville, IA, hosted by Woodbury County Conservation
• 4:30pm: Live Animal Lunchtime at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
• Fri 8/9
• 7pm: Evening Campfire at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center with live music and free s'mores!
• 8:30-10:30pm: Firefly Hunt and Star Gazing event at Adams Homestead & Nature Preserve, please call to register. 
• Sat 8/10
• 10am-4pm: Free Day at the Sioux City Railroad Museum including free grand scale train rides!
• 10am-4pm: Adams Homestead Celebration at Adams Homestead & Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, including live music, crafts, competitions like watermelon seed spitting and buffalo chip tossing, plus food vendors, and lots of other fun
• 11am: Dear Boy and Dear Girl storytime at Barnes & Noble
• 2pm: Kids Book hangout at Barnes & Noble
• 9:30pm: Perseid Meteor Shower viewing at Southwoods Conservation Area near Smithland, IA, hosted by Woodbury County Conservation

• Sun 8/11
• 11am: Baby & Me storytime at Barnes & Noble
• 2pm: Magic Show with Dave Madsen and the Sioux City Magic Club at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center & Betty Strong Encounter Center
• Mon 8/12
• Tues 8/13
• 11am: Nature Tales: Fireflies at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, for preschoolers with an adult caregiver, registration required by calling (712)259-0838 or by e-mailing TKruid@WoodburyParks.org
• 11am: Storytime at the Perry Creek branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Weds 8/14
• 10:30am: Storytime at the Morningside branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Thurs 8/15
• Fri 8/16
• 5-8pm: Kayaking on the Lake at the Southwoods Conservation Area near Smithland, Iowa, hosted by Woodbury County Conservation, ages 8+, limited number of boats and life jackets available so please register!
• Sat 8/17
• 10am-4pm: Sergeant Floyd Memorial Encampment at the Sergeant Floyd Welcome Center, with historical reenactors and demonstrators, plus kids crafts from 10am-1pm.
• 11am: The Color Monster storytime at Barnes & Noble
• 2pm: History Bee event celebrating the "Who Was" book series at Barnes & Noble
• 6pm: Sergeant Floyd Burial Ceremony Reenactment at the Sergeant Floyd Monument

• Sun 8/18
• 10am-3pm: Sergeant Floyd Memorial Encampment at the Sergeant Floyd Welcome Center, with historical reenactors and demonstrators, plus kids crafts from 10am-1pm.
• 11am: Baby & Me Storytime at Barnes & Noble
• Mon 8/19
• Tues 8/20
• 11am: Storytime at the Perry Creek branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Weds 8/21
• 10:30am: Storytime at the Morningside branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Thurs 8/22
• Fri 8/23
• First Day of School for most students at Sioux City Public Schools and Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools 
• Sat 8/24
• 7-9am: Zen in Nature at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, no ages specified but will involve extensive quiet time
• 11am: Dog Breath storytime at Barnes & Noble

• Sun 8/25
• 11am: Baby & Me storytime at Barnes & Noble
• Mon 8/26
• Tues 8/27
• 11am: Storytime at the Perry Creek branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Weds 8/28
• 10:30am: Storytime at the Morningside branch of the Sioux City Public Library
• Thurs 8/29
• Fri 8/30
• Sat 8/31
• 11am: A Tale of Two Tribes: A Wetmore Forest Story storytime at Barnes & Noble

Paid Events in Siouxland

• Thurs 8/1
• ALL DAY: Woodbury County Fair
• Fri 8/2
• ALL DAY: Woodbury County Fair
• Sat 8/3
• ALL DAY: Woodbury County Fair
• 10:30am-noon: Saturday Art Lesson: Matisse Paintings at the Sioux City Art Center, $7 per child, recommended ages 6-12 (if younger, must bring a parent/adult helper)

• Sun 8/4
• ALL DAY: Woodbury County Fair
• Mon 8/5
• Tues 8/6
• 7:12pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs St. Paul Saints at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Weds 8/7
• 9:30am: Baby Braniacs at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission) 
• 7:12pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs St. Paul Saints at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Thurs 8/8
• 5:30pm: Family Fun Night at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission) 
• 7:12pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs St. Paul Saints at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Fri 8/9
• 3:30pm: Kinder Kickstarters at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• 7:12pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Cleburne Railroaders at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park **Get 4 free tickets per family to this game from the Sioux City Public Library by participating in the summer reading program! Here's how.**
• Sat 8/10
• 10:30am-noon: Saturday Art Lesson: Assemblage Boards at the Sioux City Art Center, $7 per child, recommended ages 6-12 (if younger, must bring a parent/adult helper)
• 1pm: STEAM Explorers at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• 1-2:30pm: Painting in the Studio: Matisse Goldfish at the Sioux City Art Center, $10 per person, recommended ages 8+ (if younger, must bring a parent/adult helper)
• 6:05pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Cleburne Railroaders at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• 7pm: Sioux City Stampede football championship game vs Fargo Invaders at Bishop Heelan Memorial Field

• Sun 8/11
• 1pm: STEAM Explorers at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• 4:02pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Cleburne Railroaders at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Mon 8/12
• Tues 8/13
• Weds 8/14
• 9:30am: Baby Braniacs  at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• Thurs 8/15
• 5:30pm: Smart Art at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• Fri 8/16
• 3:30pm: Kinder Kickstarters at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• Sat 8/17
• 10:30am-noon: Saturday Art Lesson: Clay Dove Ornaments at the Sioux City Art Center, $7 per child, recommended ages 6-12 (if younger, must bring a parent/adult helper)
• 1pm: STEAM Explorers at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)

• Sun 8/18
• 1pm: STEAM Explorers at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• 4:02pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Kansas City T-Bones at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Mon 8/19
• 7:12pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Kansas City T-Bones at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Tues 8/20
• 7:12pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Kansas City T-Bones at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Weds 8/21
• 9:30am: Baby Braniacs at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• 7:12pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Cleburne Railroaders at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Thurs 8/22
• 5:30pm: STEM with a Scientist at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• 7:12pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Cleburne Railroaders at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Fri 8/23
• 3:30pm: Kinder Kickstarters at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• 7:12pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Cleburne Railroaders at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Sat 8/24
• 10:30am-noon: Saturday Art Lesson: Wet Felted Painting at the Sioux City Art Center, $7 per child, recommended ages 6-12 (if younger, must bring a parent/adult helper)
• 1pm: STEAM Explorers at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• 1-2:30pm: Painting in the Studio: Grant Wood inspired landscapes at the Sioux City Art Center, $10 per person, recommended ages 8+ (if younger, must bring a parent/adult helper)
• 6:05pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Kansas City T-Bones at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park

• Sun 8/25
• 1pm: STEAM Explorers at LaunchPad Children's Museum (event included in membership or daily admission)
• 4:02pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Kansas City T-Bones at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Mon 8/26
• 7:12pm: Sioux City Explorers baseball vs Kansas City T-Bones at Sioux City's Lewis & Clark Park
• Tues 8/27
• Weds 8/28
• Thurs 8/29
• Fri 8/30
• Sat 8/31
• 10:30am-noon: Saturday Art Lesson: Labor Day Lanterns at the Sioux City Art Center, $7 per child, recommended ages 6-12 (if younger, must bring a parent/adult helper) 

We do not run any of these events and encourage you to call or visit the websites of the hosting locations, organizations, or stores with any questions and to confirm details. Many paid events and some free events require tickets or registration in advance and some may sell out or fill up quickly or very far in advance. Age and other recommendations are general guidelines provided by the event or activity organizer and should not be considered legal or medical advice and may not apply well to all children.

Visiting the North Iowa Fair with Kids

I absolutely love county fairs, so when I found out I had a family event in Mason City the same weekend as the 2019 North Iowa Fair, I lept at the chance to come early and check out the fair while I was there!
I reached out Visit Mason City to plan my visit, and along with lots of great info, they were also kind enough to provide free meals for my family at the fair, so be sure to scroll down for pics of that deliciousness! So here's a quick look at our trip to the North Iowa Fair, followed by the full details on visiting the North Iowa Fair with kids:

What is the North Iowa Fair?

The North Iowa Fair is a county fair and hot air balloon rally in north central Iowa that features free parking, free admission, and free rides & inflatables!

One of the many fun FREE rides at the North Iowa Fair!

Where is the North Iowa Fair?

The North Iowa Fair is held at the North Iowa Events Center at in Mason City, Iowa, about 3 hours from Sioux City. Most of the drive there is a pretty easy drive on Highway 20.

What is there for kids to do at the North Iowa Fair?

There's tons for kids to do at the North Iowa Fair. Specific attractions may vary by year, but in 2019 some of the great options included:

This was my older son's favorite ride (and it was FREE!)

• Free inflatables including obstacle courses, bounce houses, and more!
• Free rides including a potato sack swing, fun house, airplane ride, and some awesome spinning rides. There were also a few rides that had a cost to ride, including some fun mini paddle boats and a mini-train! My son was just barely below the line for the airplane ride and was so excited to get to ride it, as it reminded him of his favorite ride at Adventureland last summer (the Red Baron)!

Adorable mini-train!

• Carnival games with lots of adorable stuffed animals as prizes. The carnival games weren't free, but the prices were not exorbitant either. I thought for a fair they were very reasonably priced.
• Little Farmers kids zone for hands-on agricultural themed fun. Because of the dangerous temperatures when we went, we didn't play outside much, but we did see the Little Farmer's area and it was adorable and a lot bigger than I expected it to be! There was also a shady barn full of kids activities near the inflatables and the carnival that was completely full of kids the entire time we were at the fair!
• Open class and 4H events you can compete in, or admire the entries others entered! We are saving our entries for the Woodbury County Fair, but we were so impressed with the 4H and open class exhibits. One of my favorites was a quilt with a purple coneflower pattern, and my 10 year old loved seeing the Lego building entries and voting on our favorite! As a bonus, other than the animals, both the 4H and open class events were housed in air-conditioned buildings, so even though we went when it was extremely hot out, we were comfortable as we walked around to see the great exhibits. There were also adorable animals there to compete, and those are always a hit with kids! 

This quilt is so amazing!!

• Hot air balloons to see and ride! Unfortunately when we went, the hot air balloons were delayed due to weather, so we didn't have a chance to see them up close or go on a tethered ride (tethered rides were $10 in 2019), but we did get to see them light up in a "glow show" later in the evening, and it was SO pretty! My 10 year old mentioned that it was the first time he had ever seen hot air balloons other than in a book, and he was really impressed. This year 16 hot air balloons were scheduled to attend, and at the North Iowa Fair, you can catch several balloon launches each day, and a glow show each night!
• Watch some live entertainment, including many free performances from musicians and more! I was amazed that even the headliners were free at the North Iowa Fair, and we really enjoyed the dog show that was happening when we were there. There were so many cute puppies! We also caught a glimpse of Wildlife Wendy and her amazing parrot show, and the kids and parents alike were all captivated by the talented birds and by Wendy's calm expertise and cheerful humor. We didn't catch the Nerveless Nocks, but they are incredibly talented aerial stunt artists who were also appearing at the North Iowa Fair and I wish we had seen them!

A few of the many free inflatables at the North Iowa Fair

What can you eat at the North Iowa Fair?

Perfect sandwiches for my toddler and me!

The North Iowa Fair is small, but don't let that fool you--there's no shortage of delicious food! There is a building that is basically a 4H run restaurant where everything smells amazing, plus there were a variety of food trucks selling fair classics like funnel cake, mini donuts, and giant lemonades, and meals from many different types of cuisine including Greek, Mexican, BBQ, American, and more. 

We ended up eating pulled pork sandwiches and grilled hot dogs from Black Dog Barbecue from Mason City and grilled cheese sandwich and a cheesy BLT from the Lunch Wagon from Waterloo, and all of it was amazing.

This cheesy BLT from the Lunch Wagon tasted even better than it looks!

The Lunch Wagon Food Truck served fresh food and plenty of Iowa Nice!

Black Dog BBQ from Mason City had such a cute red food truck!

I also couldn't believe how reasonable the prices are. As I mentioned, the meals were covered by Visit Mason City, but I looked at the prices and the more complicated entrees were about $6-8 and the simpler entrees were only $3-4, which is more like what you'd expect at a family-owned restaurant than at a fair. I really appreciated that they don't price gouge as much as a lot of fair vendors tend to, and if we are lucky enough to go back (and I hope we will be!), I will definitely plan on eating there, because I know I'll get great food for a great price!

This pulled pork sandwich from Black Dog BBQ made it clear why they win awards!

The delicious hot dogs from Black Dog BBQ was a favorite with my kids!

What should you bring with you to visit the North Iowa Fair with kids?

Zoltar predicts that you'll be happy you brought some change with you to the North Iowa Fair!

I would recommend bringing the same types of things you'd bring to any fair or outdoor festival:

• Play clothes and sturdy shoes
• Sunscreen and hats
• Strollers or carriers for little ones who might tire out
• Diaper changing supplies
• Some cash for food and drinks
• A bag or stroller basket with a little extra space to stash goodies from fair vendors or prizes from carnival games
• Antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizer to clean hands before meals and after touching animals, even if you don't normally do that. There have been some issues at other fairs in other parts of the country of kids getting very sick and even dying after petting animals, and we don't want that to spread to Iowa! Let's keep our kids safe and healthy!
• Camera or smartphone to capture some of the great memories you're making

We love Mother & Son selfies!

For more information

To find out more about the North Iowa Fair, you can visit the North Iowa Fair website, or connect with them on Facebook or Twitter.



Thank you to Visit Mason City and the North Iowa Fair for hosting my family!

Woodbury County Fair 2019

The 2019 Woodbury County Fair is just around the corner, and here's what you should know about attending one of Siouxland's most fun annual events:

When is the 2019 Woodbury County Fair?

The 2019 Woodbury County Fair will be from July 31st through August 4th, 2019, with exhibit check-in for most events happening Monday before the fair. Some early events start at 7 or 8am, but most parts of the fair open at 10am, noon, or later. You can check out the full schedule on the Woodbury County Fair website to make sure you don't miss your favorite events and attractions at the Woodbury County Fair!

Where is the Woodbury County Fair?

The Woodbury County Fair is held at the official Woodbury County Fairgrounds in Moville, Iowa, about 15 minutes past Menards on Highway 20 (If you have time, stop and take a selfie at one of the participating sites near Highway 20 on your way to the fair or home from the fair to enter the Highway 20 tour contest--check out my Highway 20 post for more info!)

What do you do at the Woodbury County Fair?

The Woodbury County Fair is full of fun for all ages including:

• Live music including the Bill Riley talent contest, and performances from country stars, a one-man band, and much more!
• Live animals, from prize-winning pigs to exotic critters like gators and zebra!
• Fair food starting with coffee in the morning and delighting you all day long with funnel cake, pizza, and much more!
• Carnival rides and games
• Old Town, filled with authentic Woodbury County buildings from a century ago that kids can explore, a petting zoo, and home to many of the fair's best games, crafts, and activities for kids
• 4H and Open Class competitions (for more info on how you can enter, check out my post on entering competitions at the Woodbury County Fair)
• Grandstand acts including ATV rodeo, the Barry White Rodeo, drag racing, Outlaw Tractor Pull, demolition derby, and bull riding!

What's new at the 2019 Woodbury County Fair?

Some of the new fun scheduled for the Woodbury County Fair includes:

• Kenya the Zebra appearing in Old Town
• A "mom calling" contest
• Iowa 101 Mobile Museum from the State of Iowa Historical Society

There are also several new divisions of open class competition, including the "trash to treasure" upcycling challenge and a "barns of Woodbury County" photography division!

For more info

To find out more about the Woodbury County Fair, visit the Woodbury County Fair website or Facebook page.

See you at the fair!!

2019 Siouxland County Fairs

From the animals, interactive fun, and live entertainment to the glory and defeat from entering competitions, county fairs are one of the best parts of late summer around Siouxland!
If you live in Sioux City, our county fair, the Woodbury County will be July 31st through August 4th in Moville. You can find more info in my 2019 Woodbury County Fair post.

 Here's the scoop on as many other nearby fairs as I could find details for, divided by state and then put in alphabetical order. This post will be updated frequently throughout the summer as more details become available. If you are affiliated with a county fair and have info to share, please e-mail me so I can include it!

Iowa

Buena Vista County

Dates: July 5th through 8th

Location: Alta, Iowa

Highlights: Carnival rides, horse show, kids activities, 4H and open class competitions, and grandstand acts including a tractor pull, barrel racing, and a Cattle Battle!

For more information: Visit the Buena Vista County Fair website

Cherokee County

Dates: July 17th through July 21st

Location: Cherokee, IA

Highlights: Daily 3-ring circus, carnival rides, diaper derby and kids' costume contest and parade, 4H and open class competitions, and grandstand acts including a tractor pull, barrel racing, demolition derby, and more.
For more information: Visit the Cherokee County Fair website or Facebook page

Clay County

Dates: September 7th through 15th

Location: Spencer, Iowa

Highlights: Carnival rides, kids activities, 4H and Open Class competitions including 19 new events for 2019, and grandstand acts including the Maddie Poppe, the Country Gold Tour, Michael W. Smith, and Foreigner

For more information: Check out the Clay County Fair website or find them on Facebook, twitter, or instagram 

Dickinson County

Dates: July 20th through 25th

Location: Spirit Lake, Iowa

Highlights: 4H and FFA Fair

For more information: Visit the Dickinson County Fair website 

Harrison County

Dates: July 23rd through 27th

Location: Missouri Valley, Iowa

Highlights: Carnival rides, truck and tractor pull, Figure 8 races with fireworks to follow, horse show, dog show, rodeo, family fun night, ag-lympics, and much more!

For more information: Check out the Harrison County Fair website

Ida County

Dates: July 17th through 21st

Location: Ida Grove, Iowa

Highlights: 4H Fair 

For more information: Check out the Ida County extension office website

Lyon County

Dates: 

Location: Rock Rapids, Iowa

Highlights: 

For more information: Check out the Lyon County Fair website

Monona

Dates: July 9th through 14th

Location: Onawa, Iowa 

Highlights: Giant yard games, several free community meals, face painting, balloon animals, fair parade, kids activities, Tractor Pull, ATV Rodeo, and Demolition Derby

For more information: Check out the Monona County Fair website or find them on Facebook

O'Brien County

Dates: July 20th through 25th

Location: Primghar, Iowa

Highlights: Open class and 4H competitions, carnival rides, horse show, petting zoo, live music, and auto racing

For more information: Check out the O'Brien County Fair website

Osceola County

Dates: 

Location: Sibley, Iowa

Highlights: 

For more information: Check out the Osceola County Fair website

Plymouth

Dates: July 24th through 28th

Location: LeMars, IA

Highlights: Pro Wrestling, Los Moralitos Circus, tractor pull, Kids Day, the Nadas, and Jason Pritchett
For more information: Visit the Plymouth County Fair website or find them on Facebook

Sac County

Dates: July 25th through 27th 

Location: Sac City, Iowa

Highlights: Rodeo, power wheels demolition derby, rides, inflatables, and more!

For more information: Check out the Sac County Fair website

Shelby County

Dates: July 10th through 14th

Location: Harlan, IA

Highlights: 4H & open class competitions, auto racing, tractor pull, fair parade, carnival rides, kids contests, ag olympics, and fireworks!

For more information: check out the Shelby County Fair Website

Sioux County

Dates: July 16th through 22nd

Location: Sioux Center, Iowa

Highlights: New hands-on ag exploration center, tractor pull, 4H & open class events, live music, balloon animals, petting zoo, inflatables, outdoor family movie, mini-train rides, and more!

For more information: Check out the Sioux County Fair website

Nebraska

Antelope County

Dates: July 30th through August 4th

Location: Neligh, NE

Highlights: 4H & open class competitions, bull riding, antique tractor parade, demolition derby, ice cream social, inflatables, live music, & more!

For more information: Check out the Antelope County Fair

Boone County

Dates: July 6th through 10th

Location: Albion, Nebraska

Highlights: 4H & open class events, petting zoo, fair parade, tractor pull, horse show, kids day, carnival games & rides, junior rodeo, atv racing, and more! 

For more information: Check out the Boone County Fair website

Burt County

Dates: July 19th through 23rd

Location: Oakland, Nebraska

Highlights: Dueling pianos, wine tasting, demolition derby, carnival rides, and more!

For more information: Check out the Burt County Fair website

Cedar County

Dates: July 17th through 21st

Location: Hartington, Nebraska

Highlights: Rodeo, barrel racing, demolition derby, free kids carnival, free bbq/burger social, pedal pull, pie contest, rodeo queen contest, and grandstand performances from Jordan Davis and Bret Michaels!

For more information: Check out the Cedar County Fair website

Cuming County

Dates: August 8th through 11th

Location: West Point, Nebraska

Highlights: Bull riding, carnival rides and games, 4H and open class events, live music, wildlife encounters, and more!
For more information: Check out the Cuming County Fair website

Dakota & Thurston Counties

Dates: July 31st through August 4th

Location: South Sioux City, Nebraska

Highlights: Tractor pull, escape room trailer, barrel racing, community BBQ, Junk-a-Palooza, dueling pianos, beer and wine tasting, kids day, rock climbing, fair parade, community movie night, and more!

For more information: Check out the Dakota and Thurston Counties Fair website

Dixon County

Dates: July 31st through August 4th

Location: Concord, Nebraska

Highlights: 4H & open class events, carnival games & rides, teen dance, car show, demo derby, mutton busting, bull riding, and more!

For more information: Check out the Dixon County Fair website

Knox County

Dates: August 8th through 11th 

Location: Bloomfield, Nebraska

Highlights: Bull-a-Rama, Pedal Pull, Monster Trucks, and more!

For more information: Check out the Knox County Fair website

Madison County

Dates: July 9th through 14th

Location: Madison, Nebraska

Highlights: 4H and open class events, rodeo, petting zoo, carnival rides, heritage village, and grandstand performances by Brett Young & Chris Janson

For more information: Check out the Madison County fair website

Pierce County

Dates: July 31st through August 4th

Location: Pierce, Nebraska

Highlights: Barrel racing, ATV rodeo, demolition derby, mud volleyball, 4H and open class events, kids pedal pull, bull riding, and live music from Parmalee

For more information: Check out the Pierce County Fair website

Stanton County

Dates: July 31st through August 4th

Location: Stanton, Nebrakska

Highlights: Carnival rids, car show, jousting in full armor, demolition derby, wine tasting, kids day, and more!

For more information: Check out the Stanton County fair website

Wayne County

Dates: August 24th through 28th

Location: Wayne, Nebraska

Highlights: Demolition derby, tractor pull, rodeo, 4H and open class events, carnival rides, and grandstand acts from Diamond Rio and Blackhawk

For more information: Check out the Wayne County Fair website

South Dakota

Clay County

Dates: August 8th through 10th

Location: Vermillion, South Dakota

Highlights: Open class and 4H competitions, pedal pull, magic show, barnyard olympics, kids activities, demolition derby, street dance with live music, and more!

For more information: Check out the Clay County fair website

Sioux Empire Fair

Dates: August 2nd through 10th
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Highlights: Carnival rides, fair food, competitions, kids activities, and grandstand acts (grandstand acts free with fair admission!) including the PRCA Rodeo, Keith Urban, Leann Rimes, Jeff Foxworthy, and more.
For more information: Check out the Sioux Empire Fair website

Union County

Dates: August 1st through 4th,

Location: Alcester, South Dakota

Highlights: 4H Fair, Pancake Breakfast, Pedal Pull, Tractor Pull, Balloon Animals, Juggling, Laser Tag, and more!

For more information: Check out the Union County extension office website

I hope this info helps you have some blue ribbon fun this summer!

Visiting Omaha's Durham Museum with Kids

I received free admission to Omaha's Durham Museum so that I could check it out and share my experience with you! We went on a recent rainy day, and it was a perfect place to enjoy a few hours of family time! Take a quick look:


Doesn't it look fun? Here's a bit more in-depth info on the Durham Museum and what to expect if you visit the Durham with your kids:

What is the Durham Museum?

The Durham Museum is Omaha, Nebraska's premier history museum, featuring an impressive assortment of historical exhibits, mostly focused on local and regional history, but also special exhibits covering a wider variety of topics. The Durham Museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Museum and the Field Museum.

Where is the Durham Museum?

The Durham Museum is in Omaha's old Union Station, at 801 South 10th Street. It's about an hour and a half drive from downtown Sioux City.

Permanent Exhibits at the Durham Museum

The Durham Museum has a large number of permanent exhibits including:

It's basically against the rules to *not* pose with the statues

• The Great Hall- Omaha's Union Station was built to be a beautiful starting or ending point to journeys on the Union Pacific train line, and was elaborately decorated in art deco perfection. The great hall and its 60 foot ceilings have been preserved mostly in tact to give visitors a feel for what it would've been like to use the station. The ceiling, windows, and walls are all works of art in their own right, and sculptures scattered throughout depict people behaving as they would've in a train station--some look like soldiers off to World War II, some look like as if they are waiting for someone to arrive, and others look as if they are hugging loved ones who just arrived.

Stunning Art Deco style architecture and décor on display in the Great Hall

• Example homes from various periods of Omaha history including Native Americans, pioneer settlers, a turn of the century "worker's cottage", and an upscale 1940's home! You can also catch a wide variety of other exhibits showing daily life in the Omaha area, like a covered wagon, and a general store from about 1915. 

Covered wagon

reproduction of Omaha area Native American home

• Restored real, full-size train cars and street car that guests can walk through! 
• An amazing coin and currency collection gathered by an Omaha realtor Byron Reed in the mid to late 1800's including ancient Roman and Greek coins, as well as early American coins and paper bills!

Most impressive coin collection I've ever seen!

• A huge model train exhibit that kids will love watching!

The model train exhibit was so cute!

Temporary Exhibits at the Durham Museum

There's always something new at the Durham in their rotating exhibit hall! When we went in June 2019, there were two temporary exhibits happening: American Democracy, and Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family:

American Democracy

No photography was allowed in the American Democracy exhibit, but I took this cute selfie right outside it.
The exhibit was full of artifacts and information about the democratic process in the US, from our colonial roots, to suffrage movements to modern elections and political protests. My husband has a history degree and a law degree, and I have a political science degree with a mass comm minor, so we are pretty well versed in historical and modern US politics and campaigns, and there were things neither of us had seen. One of our favorite elements of the exhibit was a wall playing tv ads that had been run in presidential elections, including many from before we were born. Even when you've read about them in books, it's hard to get the full impact of the commercials without actually seeing them on an actual screen. Our youngest kids were not very interested in this exhibit, but there wasn't anything inappropriate for kids, and our 9 year-old was pretty excited about it. The American Democracy exhibit at the Durham Museum is probably most enjoyable for adults and for kids ages 10+.

Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family

Scotty is so big they had to use their workshop space to fit him in!

The Tyrannosaur exhibit was probably our family's favorite thing in the Durham Museum on this trip. This travelling exhibit on loan from Australia features fossils from a variety of tyrannosaurs, from tiny dinos the size of a chicken, to the largest T-Rex fossil ever found, Scotty. My kids (and husband and I) loved seeing the wide variety of fossils. Because most tyrannosaur skeletons that are found are incomplete and in delicate condition, the actual fossils tend to be kept in climate controlled labs, and museums instead display casts. That's what was used for the large models in this exhibit  as well. But there were several actual fossils on display as well, which was pretty amazing to see!

Real T-Rex fossil!!

The fossils and skeletons would've been amazing on their own, but the Tyrannosaur exhibit at the Durham didn't stop there. They also had a ton of interactive screens where visitors could find more information and even play games! One in particular near Scotty was to test your grip strength--and then the screen would show how your grip strength compared to the bite strength of a T-Rex and other powerful creatures like sharks! It was a fun and memorable way to illustrate the strength of a T-Rex with the allure of a carnival game...when we were there, not just the kids, but every dad in the room also lined up at some point to test their strength!

My kids loved the dinosaur models and interactive info panels!

Because of the wonderful combination of dinosaur skeletons, visual displays, information panels, and hands-on activities, I highly recommend Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family at the Durham Museum for all ages.

The Durham Museum Gift Shop

Shopping time!

The Durham Museum Gift Shop is near the front entrance along the side of the grand hall and featured a wide variety of typical museum souvenirs, plus some unique items like Durham t-shirts and postcards from specific exhibits.

The Durham Museum Soda Fountain & Candy Counter

On the edge of the Durham Museum's great hall is a vintage soda fountain and candy counter. It was so busy when we went that we decided not to get drinks, but I'm hoping to next time. They look delicious! The soda fountain offers authentic phosphates and ice cream floats like visitors to Omaha's Union Station could've bought 75 years ago. It's fun to imagine people sitting there at that same counter, drinking similar drinks, decade after decade!

What to bring to the Durham with Kids

I would recommend bringing standard museum-trip gear to the Durham Museum if visiting with kids including:

• Diaper change bag if needed. There were good bathrooms on each floor. 
• Play clothes, including practical clothes to climb up in trains. The museum is well climate-controlled to preserve artifacts, so you don't need to worry too much about the weather! 
• Baby carrier rather than stroller if you plan to take a baby/toddler with you in the trains (there was an elevator, and everything other than the inside of the big trains seemed to be stroller accessible)
• A camera, because you will definitely want to take pictures of the exhibits and your kids enjoying them!

Peering inside a huge train!

The Platform

Along the tracks where visitors can climb aboard real trains, you'll also find "the platform," which is the Durham Museum's most interactive area for kids! At The Platform you'll find a marble run, train tables, a Lego-style brick zone, and other hands-on activities for kids. The Platform is right behind the Durham Museum's main guest elevator, so it's easy to find and access.

play trains with a view of real train tracks!

brick building zone!

Scheduled Kids Activities at the Durham Museum

Besides the fascinating exhibits and hands-on fun that happens every time the Durham Museum is open, the Durham also has a full programming schedule to provide learning and entertainment to kids, including camps, classes, storytimes, and crafts. Check the schedule on the Durham website to see the full list of events you and your kids can enjoy. Many are free with regular daily admission or a membership!

For more information:

To find out more about the Durham Museum, visit the Durham Museum website or connect with the Durham on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. In June 2019, admission to the Durham is $11 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $7 for kids 3-12. Kids 2 & under receive free admission to the Durham Museum. Memberships start at $30 for individuals and $60 for families. 

Deals on Durham Admission

If the Durham sounds like something your family would love, but is too much of a stretch for your current entertainment budget, here are a few ways you can save:

• $5 after Five:
• On Tuesdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Durham Museum is open late, until 8pm, and admission after 5 is only $5!
• Railroad Days:
• Every summer, a group of Omaha and Council Bluffs attractions with ties to railroad history host Railroad Days. Omaha Railroad Days 2019 will be July 13th & 14th from 9am to 5pm.
• Family passes to Omaha Railroad Days are just $15 per family, which includes admission to and transportation between the Durham Museum, Lauritzen Gardens, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, the Historic General Dodge House, the Railswest Railroad Museum, and the Union Pacific Home Plate where guests can see the only functioning Big Boy steam locomotive left in the world! 
• You can find out more on the Omaha Railroad Days website.

Thank you to the Durham Museum! We had a wonderful visit and can't wait to go back!