Get your holidays on! Christmas at Blithewold

The annual “Christmas at Blithewold” celebration returns with a mansion full of decorations in every room, mansion tours, Santa sing-alongs, music in the living room, afternoon teas on Wednesdays to Fridays, and “Sparkle!” in the evenings on Thursdays to Sundays.

This year’s theme is “Christmas at Blithewold: All About Augustine”. Blithewold will be open from Nov. 22 through New Year’s Day for the celebration. They will be open for tours Wednesdays to Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission is $18 adults, $14 military/students, $8 ages 6 to 17. There are additional fees for special programs such as the teas, and other special events.

Go to: www.blithewold.org for all the details!

About Christmas at Blithewold

Each year in late December, the Van Wickle/McKee family would return to Blithewold to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. The household staff would arrive days before the family to ready the house for all the holiday celebrations. The head gardener and caretaker would gather evergreen boughs and cut down a tall tree from the property. The housekeeper and maids would decorate the tree in the entrance and the mantles in each room with the greenery, ensuring that their visitors would be welcomed into a warm house filled with the fragrance of Christmas.

Today’s Blithewold finds our volunteer decorators echoing the spirit of the past by transforming the house for our visitors. Every year we choose a theme that explores the interests of the Van Wickle/McKee family during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Then our decorators translate that theme into a dazzling display celebrating the magic of Christmas.

This Year’s Theme: “All About Augustine!”

This season we’ll be shining a light on the fascinating life of Augustine Van Wickle Shaw Toland. She was the youngest daughter of Bessie and Augustus Van Wickle. Recently acquired photos, letters, and other personal items have echoed what we knew, as well as shown us more about the interesting and adventurous life of Augustine. She was happiest outdoors, gardening, horseback riding, camping, swimming, and skiing. She was also the most interesting (and beautiful) girl at every party! Look closely as you tour the house; you’ll find framed photographs of Augustine in every room. And, don’t miss a very special exhibit on the second floor – a selection of Augustine’s beautiful dresses.