KENNESAW, Ga. – The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History will offer free admission from 9:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1 to conclude the sesquicentennial anniversary of the Great Locomotive Chase and to coincide with the City of Kennesaw’s daylong holiday celebration.

From 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Dec. 1, the Southern Museum will also host Christmas on the Home Front. In addition to free admission items in The General Emporium museum gift shop will be discounted 10 percent for the general public and 20 percent for Southern Museum members.

Christmas on the Home Front will feature a living history Civil War encampment on the front lawn and period dancing inside the museum. Re-enactors will drill young recruits while Southern Belles play period games and decorate holiday cards.

Other festivities in Kennesaw that day include a parade featuring local marching bands and musical ensembles, costumed characters, designer floats and live reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh. The parade, which runs through downtown, begins at 1 p.m. and will last about an hour.

Additional attractions near the Depot until 6 p.m. include visits with Santa, live music, dance performances and a seasonal variety of food vendors, crafts and general merchandise.

In January, the Southern Museum will kick off its packed 2013 calendar of events with a family day focusing on all aspects of trains and featuring a model train expo. The family friendly “Trains, Trains, Trains” event will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, and will feature crafts, tips and techniques for building a home layout, and a variety of operating model train layouts.

Museum admission is normally $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.50 for children ages 4-12 and free for children three and under. The museum is located at 2829 Cherokee Street in downtown Kennesaw (exit 273 on Interstate 75).

For more information on Kennesaw’s holiday events, visit www.kennesaw-ga.gov/pkrec.For more information, call (770) 427-2117, visit southernmuseum.org or follow the museum at facebook.com/southernmuseum.