For six weeks, Maymont is decked out for Victorian Holidays! Kids and adults alike will enjoy the beautiful decorations and delightful events that attract visitors from all over the country and the world. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the season.
Maymont Mansion Holiday Tours
Tuesdays-Sundays, November 20-January 3, 12-5pm
(Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)
Celebrate the season at Maymont and revel in Victorian holiday splendor! Major and Mrs. Dooley’s spectacularly decorated Gilded Age home brings the wonders and festivities of Christmas past to life. Beautiful trimmings on the 12-foot Christmas tree, the opulent dining room set for a feast, evergreen decorations and lavish gifts welcome the season in grand Victorian style. In the Belowstairs area, preparations are underway to make the Dooleys’ first Christmas in their new home special for their family and friends – and to put everyone in the holiday spirit! Guided tours (upstairs only) available every half-hour; last tour begins at 4:30pm. $5 suggested admission. For information, call 804-358-7166, ext. 329.
Wreath Workshops
Tuesday, December 1, 6-9pm
Wednesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 3, 9am-12pm and 6-9pm, Stone Barn
Have you ever strolled through Maymont around the holidays and envied the beautiful greenery decorating the estate? Sign up for one of these popular workshops and learn from the experts how to create the spectacular wreaths used at Maymont. Greens, forms, wire and instruction are supplied; bring your own clippers and gloves. Create one special wreath to take home and help make another for Maymont. $30 per person/$25 members. Register online at maymont.org by November 30; for information, call 804-358-7166, ext. 310.
Deck the Halls Workshop
Friday, December 4, 6-8pm, Stone Barn
Whether for an American estate, your house or apartment, creating your own holiday decorations can be fun and easy! Learn from Maymont’s experts the special techniques needed to make and take home a traditional Magnolia wreath and window swag. Greens, forms, wire and instruction are supplied; bring your own clippers and gloves. $45 per person/$37 members. Register online at maymont.org by December 2; for information, call 804-358-7166, ext. 310.
Old-Fashioned Christmas
Sunday, December 6, 12-5pm, Maymont Mansion and Carriage House Lawn
Celebrate a charming, old-fashioned Christmas and experience a tradition enjoyed by generations of families. Victorian ladies and gentlemen graciously welcome you into the Dooleys’ home to marvel at the grand Christmas tree and the beautifully decorated formal rooms, to see the gifts and games of 1893 and to stop by the Belowstairs, where holiday preparations abound. Guests can enjoy horsedrawn carriage rides, St. Nick’s Party with Maymont’s Christmas Fairy, good food and drink, festive music, a roaring bonfire and more. Free activities for families include ornament making, games, photo opportunities with St. Nick or Maymont’s Victorian sleigh, close encounters with a miniature pony, and entertainment by living historian Lamar Bannister. New in the Victorian village, shoppers will find “street vendors” with fresh holiday greenery and aromatic herbal soaps and candles. Guided mansion tours: $5 per person/$4 members and children age 12 and under. Carriage rides: $5 per person/$4 members and children 12 and under. For reservations, visit maymont.org or call 804-358-7166, ext. 310.
St. Nick’s Party
Sunday, December 6, 2:30-4pm, Garden Hall
The entire family is sure to enjoy an afternoon of merriment and surprises as St. Nick joins Maymonts Christmas Fairy to host a party filled with magical wishes, games and crafts, special treats, animal friends and a visit to the enchanting home of Major and Mrs. Dooley. $15 per person/$10 adults and children 12 and older. Advanced registration required; register online at maymont.org or call 804-358-7166, ext. 310.
Maymont by Moonlight
Fridays, December 11 & 18, 5:30-9:30pm, Maymont’s Historic Estate Entrance
Enjoy an enchanting holiday evening at Maymont by moonlight! Elegantly costumed Victorian ladies and gentlemen welcome you to the home of Major and Mrs. James H. Dooley to witness the excitement of Christmas 1893. The Dooleys’ gracious family, guests and domestic staff bring to life the busy preparations for a special celebration – the first Christmas in their new home. A horse-drawn carriage ride under the stars, seasonal refreshments and joyful carol singing by the bonfire make this an evening to remember! $28 per person/$22 members. Reservations required. Register online at maymont.org or call 804-358-7166, ext. 329.
Special Monday Opening: Maymont Mansion Holiday Tours
Monday, December 28, 12-5pm, Maymont Mansion
Maymont Mansion will be open on Monday, December 28, for Holiday Tours. (The mansion is normally closed on Mondays.) For information, call 804-358-7166, ext. 329.
Private Carriage Rides
Book a private, horse-drawn carriage ride to celebrate the holiday season in Victorian style. For information, call 804-358-7166, ext. 340.
Maymont Holiday Hours
Indoor exhibits, including Maymont Mansion and The Robins Nature & Visitor Center, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
