Victorian Christmas : Traditions… Evening Open Houses

Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children (children under five are free).

A holiday tradition continues as once again each room of Hearthstone is overflowing with Christmas decorations that bring to life this season of merriment and wonder.  

As always, there is a new theme this year with all decorations hand-crafted to match by our dedicated curation staff and volunteers and with the advice and help of Fox Valley Technical Colleges’ school of design students.  The result is stunning room-after-room of literal works of art that bring to life the best of Victorian Christmas traditions.

The evening events are “open-house” type of affairs with no set guided tour.  Rather, holiday merry-makers are encouraged to wander from room to room to take in the sights at their own pace. Our holiday “welcomers” will be on-hand in each room, wearing their Victorian holiday finest, to welcome you in and explain Victorian holiday traditions or answer any questions that may arise. The evenings also feature live performances of traditional Christmas carols played on our 1875 Kranich and Bach square grand piano as well as other musical guests.

Please note that here are two additional ways to see the beautiful decorations :

- Regular daytime tours. The decorated rooms are included in every day-time tour of Hearthstone.  Tickets are available here and as walk-ups.  Please note that the holiday decorations are not the focus of these guided tours which cover the technological, historic, and artistic significance of the residence.

- Special daytime tours entitled How Victorians Invented Christmas.  The stories behind how we still celebrate secular Christmas are front and center in this guided tour. Please scroll below for additional details and tickets.

Our evening guests are encouraged to linger as long as they like (though we do close by 8:30 pm).  However, Guests Must Arrive During The Entry Times Stated On Their Tickets.