By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer 

For many Chester County families, visiting Winterthur Museum during the holiday season has been an annual rite of passage that has been the equivalent of making a quick ride -- over the river and through the woods to Delaware – and finding themselves at a place of history, tradition and family memories.

Accompanied by safety guidelines for visitors regarding COVID-19, Winterthur has rolled out a full calendar of indoor and outdoor events through early January that will feature light shows, ornament making workshops, wine tasting and of course, yuletide tours of the home once owned by H. F. du Pont.

Outdoor 3D Holiday Light Show
Dec. 1–12, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Enjoy Winterthur's new magical outdoor light show unlike any other! The Winterthur house will serve as the backdrop for a magical outdoor light show that will feature 3D images, video, lights and sounds for an immersive holiday experience.

Yuletide House Tours
Through Jan. 3 daily, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

A Winterthur holiday favorite, visitors will take a tour of the home once owned by H. F. du Pont, decorated in the full yuletide splendor of an elegant country estate.

Mistletoe Cactus Workshop
Dec. 10, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm

Terrarium Therapy will show attendees how to create a holiday centerpiece out of a handmade rustic box filled succulents, cacti, and seasonal greenery, and how to care for and update their arrangement all year-round.

S’mores around the Fire
Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 3, 11:00 a.m to 2 p.m.

Holiday Ornament Workshop
Dec. 17, 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

With help from professionals at Terrarium Therapy, those who attend will create a trio of living holiday ornaments or one large one.

Kids Create!
Sundays through Jan. 3, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Young crafters will design a special holiday memento, guaranteed to spruce up any tree.

Kids’ Tram to Enchanted Woods

Sundays from Dec. 13 to Jan. 3, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Passengers will take a winter ride to Enchanted Woods and enjoy the Storybook Trail, discover a fairy village, embark on a scavenger hunt, and peek at decorations inside the Faerie Cottage. 

Family Fun Fridays (Virtual Program)
Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Join us virtually for a night filled with laughter and bonding as you and your family participate in interactive fun and games. Registration required. $25 per family; $20 per Member family.

Yuletide Jazz & Wine
Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Enjoy an evening of live jazz, food, and wine with some of the area’s best musicians, who will be performing holiday music.

Kids’ Pajama Night
Dec. 4 and 11, 5:00 p.m to 9 p.m.

Children under 12 are invited to come dressed in their PJs for free admission to the 3D Holiday Lights show, house tour, and all the Winterthur evening fun. Free admission for children 12 and under when wearing pajamas.

Santa Tram
Dec. 6, 10:00 a.m to 3 p.m.

Passengers will take a ride to Enchanted Woods to see Santa and Mrs. Claus and join in a sing-a-long, and story time with Santa.

Gardeners' Holiday
Dec. 12, 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gardeners of all ages will celebrate the season in the Winterthur Gardens, delight in holiday decorations as they stroll thru the winter landscape, and enjoy complimentary hot apple cider outside the museum’s historic greenhouse.

Live Ice Sculpture Carving
Dec. 12 and 19, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Delight in the carving of a Yuletide ice sculpture while you dine at Winterthur's Pavilion Café.

Garden Director’s Walk: Conifers and the Winter Garden
Dec. 12, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Join Winterthur’s Director of Garden & Estate Chris Strand on a special walk highlighting interesting and seldom seen parts of the Winterthur landscape.

Crafternoon: Fun with Fibers (Virtual Program)
Dec. 11, 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Those attending this workshop will create projects from a list of suggested materials, and explore the art of turning fiber into yarn and then cord using various twisting and braiding techniques.

Sounds of the Season Concert: A Concert by The Choir School of Delaware
Dec. 13, with performances at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. (virtual)

The choir will tell classic holiday stories through song, including “A Christmas Carol" and “The Night before Christmas.” 

Garden to Vase: Holiday Design Workshop (Virtual Program)
Dec. 16, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Attendees can create their own holiday centerpiece using long-lasting flowers and decorations, and enjoy a special pre-workshop virtual tour of the 2020 Yuletide display hosted by Winterthur floral designers.

WinterFest
Dec. 25, 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This event will include performances representing traditions from around the globe, crafts and games that explore seasonal traditions, a tour of the du Pont mansion, and an opportunity to pick up a special take-home meal with holiday food from different cultures.

New Year’s Day Calling
Jan. 1, 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Celebrate New Year’s Day in the tradition of the du Pont family’s annual New Year’s Calling. The yuletide tour includes refreshments and a gift of a paperwhite bulb to brighten up your home.

To purchase tickets to these events and for additional information, visit www.winterthur.org or call 800-448-3883. The website also includes the museum’s guidelines for COVID-19 (See “Our COVID-19 Response” for complete details and a response to frequently-asked questions).

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].

 

PHOTO: Jim Schneck