The annual holiday open house of the South Dakota State Historical Society will be held Friday, Nov. 28. The event runs from 12-4:30 p.m. CST, at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.

The largest event of the year, the 2014 theme of the open house is “A Prairie Christmas.” The lobby will be decorated to have a prairie look with branches and wreaths.

Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography.” The much-anticipated book, published by the South Dakota Historical Society Press, contains hundreds of annotations, images and other materials that accompany Wilder’s original manuscript “Pioneer Girl.”

The open house features free museum admission to the new exhibit “Play Ball! The National Pastime in South Dakota.” There will also be holiday treats and entertainment including living-history demonstrations and Santa Claus will be on hand for photographs. The Heritage Store will offer discounts on its unique gifts.

Visitors are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate to the local food pantry.

“Our day-after-Thanksgiving holiday open house has become a local tradition,” said Jay D. Vogt, society director. “Hundreds of people visit the Cultural Heritage Center each year during the event, and we hope people will attend and bring their friends!”

Nov. 28 will also be the beginning of the museum being open extended hours throughout the holidays. Hours until Dec. 23 will be 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-4:30 p.m. on Sundays. The center is closed Christmas Day.