Yuletide at Winterthur
Visitors tour the decorated du Pont estate to view seasonal vignettes, festive holiday trees including the signature Dried-Flower Tree, and displays highlighting family traditions. In the Galleries, guests can admire an elaborate gingerbread display of the du Pont home and an 18-room decorated dollhouse filled with thousands of miniatures. Outdoor lights brighten the grounds, alongside seasonal shopping at the museum store and access to gallery exhibitions.
What to Expect
Holiday house tour featuring the signature Dried-Flower Tree and festive miniatures.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Organizer
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Food & Drink
On select Holiday Nights, visitors can enjoy seasonal café fare and specialty cocktails, and toast marshmallows at outdoor firepits.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families and holiday décor enthusiasts
Vibe
Festive and traditional
Energy Level
Moderate
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: Included with admission Activities are included with admission unless otherwise noted. – Get tickets
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm; Holiday Nights on select Fridays and Saturdays, open until 8:00 pm. Toy Trains display: December 19–20, 10:00 am–5:00 pm.
Tips & Advice
- Reserve your tickets in advance, since Winterthur strongly recommends it for the Yuletide season.
- Plan a Friday or Saturday evening visit to catch Holiday Nights, but note that there are no extended hours on December 26 or January 1.
- Dress warmly on Holiday Nights if you want to sit by the outdoor fire pits and toast marshmallows after the candlelit house tour.
- Go on December 19 or 20 to see the toy train display, which is set up in the Brown Center, not the main house.
- Leave time to walk to the Galleries for the new gingerbread display and the 18-room dollhouse after the Yuletide Tour.
Special Events & Promotions
- Holiday Nights on select Fridays and Saturdays from November 27, with candlelit tours, live music, fire pits and seasonal cocktails (not December 26 or January 1).
- New this year: the gingerbread display "Winterthur: Home Sweet Home!" shows the du Pont home on Christmas Eve, in the Galleries.
- Toy Trains weekend December 19–20, with a Lionel Standard Gauge train display in the Brown Horticulture Learning Center.
- Holiday Market for artisan shopping on November 21, opening day of the season.
- Evening workshops on November 28: Handmade Holiday Treasures and the Gather & Graze charcuterie workshop.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Holiday Nights?
On select Fridays and Saturdays, Winterthur stays open into the evening. There are candlelit tours of the house, live music from local musicians, outdoor fire pits for toasting marshmallows, seasonal cocktails and seasonal food at the café.
What will I see on the Yuletide Tour?
Decorated vignettes throughout the house explore comfort, belonging and tradition at home. You'll see the Dried-Flower Tree and more than a dozen other trees, including an Enchanted Woods tree and a Nutcracker ballet tree, plus displays of the du Pont family's holiday customs.
Where are the gingerbread display and the dollhouse?
Both are in the Galleries. The dollhouse has 18 rooms decorated for the season.
Do I need to book ahead?
Advance reservations are strongly recommended. You can buy tickets online or by phone.
Is there food and drink?
On Holiday Nights the café serves seasonal food, and there are specialty cocktails and marshmallows to toast by the fire pits.
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