Come join us for Planes, Trains and Santa on Thanksgiving weekend at the Military Aviation Museum! The Tidewater Division of the National Model Railroad Association hosts a variety of train experiences, allowing kids (and adults!) of all ages to see and interact with amazing model train exhibits. Although the event had to be cancelled in 2020, it is returning better than ever before!
Santa flies into the museum each day at 10:00 a.m. in a vintage airplane, weather permitting, because sometimes reindeer just have to rest! Get your picture with Santa, see loads of vintage airplanes and marvel at the hangar overrun with trains!
Santa and the Marine Corps Reserves will also be collecting donations for Toys for Tots!
All children 17 and under get in FREE all weekend. Regular prices apply for guests 18 and older. Museum members get in free!
Buy your tickets now online, over the phone at 757-721-7767 or at the door. The museum is open 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., closed on Thanksgiving.
All guests with active memberships or pre-purchased tickets get priority access to sit with Santa! Portraits with Santa are taken by Museum Photographers and are printed on-site at a cost of $5.00 per print.
FAQs
How come my ticket is not for a specific date?
All tickets are valid for any of the three days, November 26, 27 or 28 you choose which day you come! Please note that tickets may only be redeemed once.
All tickets are valid for any of the three days, November 26, 27 or 28 you choose which day you come! Please note that tickets may only be redeemed once.
When does Santa arrive?
Santa flies in at the museum at 10:00 a.m. on all three dates, depending on weather. In the event that weather prevents flying, Santa will arrive via an alternative magical route, and be available to sit for pictures from 12:00p.m. onward.
Selfies with Santa - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
After Santa flies in, he will greet visitors on the flight line. At this time, families are encouraged to take a quick selfie with Santa as he meets and greets everyone. This will bethe only opportunity to take a cell phone or personal photo. Museum staff will assist Santa with moving quickly down the line. After Santa has welcomed everyone, he will retire to his comfy chair in the museum where children will have the opportunity to talk with Santa and have a portrait taken.
Sit with Santa / Portrait with Santa- 12:00 p.m.
Beginning at noon, Santa will be available to sit and visit. This portion of the event will work as it has in previous years. Each family will receive a queue number when they arrive at the museum, and will be called up to see Santa. Families in the lines for Members and Pre-purchased tickets will get to see Santa first, followed by General Admission. We ask that no cell phone photos to be taken, so that we have time for every family. Portraits with Santa are taken by Museum Photographers and are printed on-site at a cost of $5.00 per print.
How does the priority system work?
When you arrive to the museum, families will receive a queue number. Until your number is called, we encourage you to visit the rest of the museum, including train demonstrations and holiday activity stations in Santa's workshop. When your number is called, we ask that you to go upstairs and stand in the appropriate line.
There will be three lines: Members, Pre-purchased, and General Admission. Please stand in the appropriate line. The order of priority for seeing Santa is: Members, Pre-purchased, General Admission.
How long is the wait to sit with Santa?
This year, Santa will not start sitting for portraits until 12:00 p.m. We estimate the following wait times for an official portrait for General Admission (Wait times are shorter for pre-purchased tickets and shortest of all for Museum Members):
12:00 p.m. - 2 hours
1:00 p.m. - 1 hour
2:00 p.m. - 30 minutes
What is there to do while we wait?
There's tons to do for the whole family! There will be trains galore, with both demonstrations and hands-on experiences. There are also flight simulators, holiday activities in Santa's Workshop and a station to prepare holiday cards for those serving our country. The museum will also be open to explore.
Will there be food at the museum?
There will be food trucks available for lunch, as well as snacks for sale in the Museum Store.
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