Delaware's Winterthur Estate Brings Storybook Magic to Life This Holiday Season
For over 35 years, Yuletide has been a beloved tradition at the Winterthur estate in Delaware. Each year, the estate is transformed into a winter wonderland filled with vibrant holiday scenes, literary-inspired installations, and an array of family-friendly activities.
This year's celebration takes inspiration from some of literature's most timeless tales, including poems, children's stories, and classic novels. The beautifully decorated rooms inside the house feature stunning displays that combine theatrical props, Victorian objects, and historic toys to bring beloved stories like "Alice in Wonderland," "A Visit from Saint Nicholas," "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," and writings by Jane Austen, C.S. Lewis, and Edith Wharton to life.
Visitors can marvel at a Dried-Flower Tree in the Conservatory, a long-running tradition that showcases more than 60 varieties of dried flowers collected from the estate throughout the year. Nearby, a large gingerbread replica of the 1890 Winterthur Train Station is on display, courtesy of Bredenbeck's Bakery in Philadelphia.
The outdoors are equally festive, with the gardens trimmed with festive lights and antique sleighs. Trees suspended above the Reflecting Pool and the front pond add to the magical atmosphere, while scenes inspired by "The Secret Garden" dot the grounds.
Winterthur's seasonal programming runs throughout December, featuring a range of concerts, performances, and hands-on activities for all ages. Highlights include performances by renowned artists like Gerald Charles Dickens, a candlelight concert with OperaDelaware, and holiday workshops where visitors can create their own crepe paper orchids.
Yuletide hours are Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with select evenings open until 8 p.m. through December 20th. Winterthur is closed on Mondays and Christmas Day, and operates with reduced hours on Christmas Eve.
For more information and the full schedule, visit winterthur.org. Don't miss out on this enchanting celebration of the holiday season – Yuletide at Winterthur runs now through January 4.
For over 35 years, Yuletide has been a beloved tradition at the Winterthur estate in Delaware. Each year, the estate is transformed into a winter wonderland filled with vibrant holiday scenes, literary-inspired installations, and an array of family-friendly activities.
This year's celebration takes inspiration from some of literature's most timeless tales, including poems, children's stories, and classic novels. The beautifully decorated rooms inside the house feature stunning displays that combine theatrical props, Victorian objects, and historic toys to bring beloved stories like "Alice in Wonderland," "A Visit from Saint Nicholas," "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," and writings by Jane Austen, C.S. Lewis, and Edith Wharton to life.
Visitors can marvel at a Dried-Flower Tree in the Conservatory, a long-running tradition that showcases more than 60 varieties of dried flowers collected from the estate throughout the year. Nearby, a large gingerbread replica of the 1890 Winterthur Train Station is on display, courtesy of Bredenbeck's Bakery in Philadelphia.
The outdoors are equally festive, with the gardens trimmed with festive lights and antique sleighs. Trees suspended above the Reflecting Pool and the front pond add to the magical atmosphere, while scenes inspired by "The Secret Garden" dot the grounds.
Winterthur's seasonal programming runs throughout December, featuring a range of concerts, performances, and hands-on activities for all ages. Highlights include performances by renowned artists like Gerald Charles Dickens, a candlelight concert with OperaDelaware, and holiday workshops where visitors can create their own crepe paper orchids.
Yuletide hours are Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with select evenings open until 8 p.m. through December 20th. Winterthur is closed on Mondays and Christmas Day, and operates with reduced hours on Christmas Eve.
For more information and the full schedule, visit winterthur.org. Don't miss out on this enchanting celebration of the holiday season – Yuletide at Winterthur runs now through January 4.
... but, wait, is it too commercialized? I mean, the whole estate being transformed into a winter wonderland sounds magical, but aren't we just perpetuating consumerism by buying all those crepe paper orchids and gingerbread replicas? 
At the same time, I think it's awesome that they're bringing literature to life with these installations... unless it's just a fancy way of saying "we can charge more for admission" 
. On the other hand, I'm all about that vintage sleigh life – antique sleighs are so cool! 
... but, do we really need to add festive lights to the gardens? Is that just another way to make it feel like Christmas in Delaware all year round? 
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for like over 35 yrs now! they transform the whole place into a winter wonderland w/ these amazing installations inspired by literature!!! i need to see that dried flower tree tho it sounds so pretty 
i wish they had something for us wellness folks too but its all about the fam and kids 
anyway u should def check it out if u r in the area this holiday season
its like stepping into a storybook come to life! they did an amazing job with the decor and installations, i loved seeing alice in wonderland and jane austen vibes side by side. and omg that dried-flower tree is stunning 
it's so cool how they incorporate all these different literary elements throughout the estate. and let's not forget about the outdoor lights and sleighs 
️ it feels like a real-life winter wonderland! i'm planning on checking it out with my fam this weekend, hope its as magical as everyone says 
and it's so epic 
, I need to see this in person ASAP 
and those gingerbread replicas? 
totally got to make a visit to Winterthur Estate ASAP! they're doing everything right, from the decorations to the activities for all ages - can't wait to see the performances by OperaDelaware 
and maybe even make some crepe paper orchids 
IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL TREAT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! I LOVE HOW THEY'RE BRINGING STORYBOOK MAGIC TO LIFE WITH ALL THOSE FESTIVE INSTALLATIONS AND ACTIVITIES. I MEAN, WHO DOESN'T WANT TO SEE ALICE IN WONDERLAND AND THE SECRET GARDEN COME TO LIFE?! 
AND OMG, A DRIED-FLOWER TREE IS SUCH A COOL TOUCH! IT'S LIKE STEPPING INTO A FAIRYTALE. I'M DEFINITELY GOING THERE WITH MY FAMILY THIS YEAR!
Just saw the news about Winterthur Estate in Delaware and I'm already getting a bad vibe... Like how can they expect us to enjoy the festive atmosphere when there's still so much climate change-related issues out there? 
And let's not forget, it's been 35 years of Yuletide celebration, which means they're probably just profiting off people's nostalgia and love for the holiday season... Meanwhile, some families can't even afford to visit museums or historical sites due to rising costs and economic uncertainty 
. And have you seen the lines at those popular tourist spots lately? 
It's like people are more focused on indulging in festive cheer than addressing the real issues affecting our society... 
It's like they're trying to make us all feel like kids again... which, I guess is kinda cool. Anyway, if you're feeling nostalgic or just wanna get into the holiday spirit, Winterthur seems like a great place to do it 
and that gingerbread train station replica looks like it was made by a real-life wizard 
anyone going there?