8 Historic Houses: Hudson Valley Holiday Season 2016

The whole Hudson Valley area is rich in history and holiday traditions. Many of the historic sites and houses are decorated for the holidays and have special events or presentations in celebration of the season.

Here are a magical eight:

Lights and More at Boscobel: A six-night series of evening events will take place at Boscobel on Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 17. There will be thousands of lights, luminous displays, and festive holiday happenings around the gardens and grounds of the house. You can take a twilight tour, walk the candlelit paths with a hot cup of cocoa, and celebrate the season. There will also be performances by magician Margaret Steele, ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner, the Libby Richman Jazz Trio, and many others including Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The schedule is: 5-9 p.m. for the grounds and attractions and 4:30-7:30 p.m. for Twilight Tours, which require a reservation. Boscobel is at 1601 Route 9 D in Garrison. For more information, call 845-265-3638 or click here.

Holiday Tours of John Jay Homestead: John Jay Homestead State Historic Site is offering evening holiday tours. These limited candlelight tours will take you through John Jay’s 1820s retirement home to show what the winter holiday season would have been like for Jay and his family. Period decorations, historic foods and other experiences help celebrate the season. There is a specially curated exhibition featuring holiday themed artifacts used by generations of the Jay family. After the tour, enjoy refreshments in the 1930s ballroom, with a 10-foot Christmas tree and holiday music. Exclusive holiday items will also be available in our museum shop. Tours are offered on Tuesday, Dec. 20; Wednesday, Dec. 21; and Thursday, Dec. 22 at 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, and 7:00 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, students, and members of Friends of John Jay Homestead; $5 for children. Reservations are required because space is strictly limited. Click here to purchase tickets.

Open House at Locust Grove: Locust Grove, the home of inventor and artist Samuel F.B. Morse, will hold a Holiday Open House on Sunday, Dec. 11, from noon to 4pm. The historic mansion glitters for the holidays with festive decorations and a special exhibit of antique toys and games from the museum collection. The toys and games from the William and Martha Young family, who moved into the house in 1901 with their two children, Annette and Innis. The Youngs brought trunks of toys with them, and carefully packed them away as their kids grew up. They are now unpacked and out for you to see. On December Sundays, you can take a self-guided tour of Locust Grove’s 25-room mansion. Our expert guides are stationed throughout the house to answer your questions, and there will be a fact-filled hunt for kids. Admission is $11 for adults, $6 for kids. Locust Grove is at 2683 South Road, Poughkeepsie. More information is here.

A Duchess’s Holiday at Lyndhurst: Lyndhurst is holding Guided Historic Tours: A Very Duchess Holiday. Anna Gould, the last owner of Lyndhurst, was also the Duchess of Talleyrand and Princess de Sagan. Like in Downton Abbey, Anna Gould was one of the wealthy American heiresses that went to Europe and married into the aristocracy This holiday season, in addition to lavish holiday decorations throughout the house, there will be an exhibit of Anna’s fabulous dresses and a Christmas tree made from of all her hats. Come experience how an aristocrat lived with our special holiday exhibition. Hourly tours starting from 10am until 4pm. Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 30, except Christmas week – Friday Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 26 through Friday, Dec. 30. Admission is $18. Lyndhurst is at 635 South Broadway in Tarrytown.

Staatsburgh: Staatsburgh State Historic Site, the former home of Ogden and Ruth Livingston Mills, is holding two holiday events. A Gilded Age Christmas: Special Evening Hours will be Friday, Dec. 9, 2016 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Spend a festive evening in the fully-decorated mansion, with costumed guides, music and gift shopping. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, and free for children 12 and under and Friends of Mills Mansion members. Staatsburgh will also hold a Holiday Whodunit for children on Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Children become detectives to solve a history mystery. Costumed interpreters throughout the house provide clues to help kids find whodunit. Regular admission rates apply. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, and free for children 12 and under and Friends of Mills Mansion members. The mansion is on the Old Post Road in Staatsburg. For more information, click here or call (845) 889-8851.

Wilderstein: The first three Saturdays & Sundays in December plus Monday, 12/26 & Tuesday 12/27. From 1 to 4 pm. Admission is $11 for adults, $10 for students/seniors, and free for children under 12. Florists and designers transform the Wilderstein mansion into a magical holiday wonderland. Tours are self-guided, with a docent in each room to share information and answer questions. There will be complimentary hot mulled cider and cookies. Wilderstein is at 330 Morton Road in Rhinebeck. For more information, click here.

Christmas on the Farm: Muscoot Farm will be decorated for the season through New Year’s. On Saturday, Dec. 10, there will be Christmas on the Farm from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening will feature the Westchester Oratorio Society. Children will have a chance to write letters to Santa and tour the farm. The Manor House at Muscoot Farm is located at 51 Route 100 in Katonah. For more information, click here.

Candlelight at Jacob Blauvelt House: The Historical Society of Rockland County is presenting Candlelight Tours of the Jacob Blauvelt House on Dec. 11 and 18, 2016, and Jan. 8 and 15, 2017. Tours start promptly at 5 and 6:30 p.m. Spend an enchanted evening at the historic 1832 Jacob Blauvelt farmhouse, illuminated with candlelight and lanterns, fragrant with traditional sweets, and decorated with festive greenery. Experience Dutch American holiday traditions of the 1830s with nineteenth century music and song and seasonal refreshments. Admission is $10 for adults $8 for seniors and $5 for children. Reservations are required. The Jacob Blauvelt House is at 20 Zukor Road in New City. For more information, click here.

Photo via Lyndhurst.org