Christmas at Hagley

Visit Hagley during the holiday season and enjoy a variety of exhibitions, activities, choral performances, crafts, and more!

In the du Pont tradition of giving back to the community, children fourteen and under are admitted free in December. Hagley is collecting items for the Sunday Breakfast Mission. Consider bringing a new, unwrapped children’s clothing item or toy to help make the holiday season more enjoyable for those less fortunate.

November 25, 2011, through January 1, 2012
Christmas at the Residence
Come and be inspired by the lavish Christmas and Twelfth Night decorations throughout Eleutherian Mills, the first du Pont family home in America. This year's exhibition draws from Hagley's extensive collection of lace and handwork created and used by the du Pont family in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In addition, you'll see elaborate handmade decorations throughout the house and property created by our talented staff and volunteers from many items grown at Hagley. The first bus departs from the visitor center daily at 10 a.m.; the last bus departs at 3:30 p.m.

November 26 and 27 - Saturday and Sunday - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Belin House Organic Café Holiday Brunch
The special holiday brunch menu is prepared using farm-fresh, locally grown, sustainable and organic products. Featured specialties are a la carte and include made-to-order omelets, pumpkin leek soup, open-faced roasted turkey sandwiches, Maryland crab cakes, warm apple cider, and more. The Belin House Organic Café is self-service with self-seating, no reservations necessary.

November 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Christmas at Hagley: Family-Friendly Activities
Visit the Gibbons House to learn about nineteenth-century homemaking. Try popping corn on the woodburning stove, making a paper ornament, or simply admiring the decorated tree. In the Brandywine Manufacturers' Sunday School, kids can write with quill pens or on a slate board, make a paper chain, or play with a ball and cup.

December 1 - Thursday - 7 p.m.
Christmas Past, an illustrated talk by Jane Peters Estes
Join us for a lively presentation of the holiday traditions of Christmas past, with an emphasis on the Civil War era. From 5 to 6:45 p.m., enjoy a rare opportunity to see the du Pont family residence decked for Christmas in the glow of evening twilight. Admission is free. Enter using Hagley's Buck Road East entrance and proceed to the library where you can take a shuttle to the residence. The Christmas Past program begins in the Copeland Room at 7 p.m. Reservations suggested, (302) 658-2400.

December 3 and 4 - Saturday and Sunday
Christmas at Hagley
Family Program: A Victorian Christmas
This weekend, children can make paper chain decorations, cornucopias, and paper fan ornaments, and enjoy story time. The featured choirs are Wilmington Christian School, St. Andrew's School, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. The holiday display and family activities are included in the cost of admission and are free for members. Children fourteen and under have free admission during the month of December and on January 1.

December 3 and 4 - Saturday and Sunday - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Belin House Organic Café Holiday Brunch
The special holiday brunch menu is prepared using farm-fresh, locally grown, sustainable and organic products. Featured specialties are a la carte and include made-to-order omelets, pumpkin leek soup, open-faced roasted turkey sandwiches, Maryland crab cakes, warm apple cider, and more. The Belin House Organic Café is self-service with self-seating, no reservations necessary.

December 10 and 11 - Saturday and Sunday
Christmas at Hagley
Family Program: Winter Animals
Children can make walnut Christmas mice and reindeer footprints, and enjoy story time. The featured choirs include Sanford School, Red Lion Christian Academy, Tatnall School, and Sunday Breakfast Mission. The holiday display and family activities are included in the cost of admission and are free for members. Children fourteen and under have free admission during the month of December and on January 1.

December 10 and 11 - Saturday and Sunday - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Belin House Organic Café Holiday Brunch
The special holiday brunch menu is prepared using farm-fresh, locally grown, sustainable and organic products. Featured specialties are a la carte and include made-to-order omelets, pumpkin leek soup, open-faced roasted turkey sandwiches, Maryland crab cakes, warm apple cider, and more. The Belin House Organic Café is self-service with self-seating, no reservations necessary.

December 17 and 18 - Saturday and Sunday
Christmas at Hagley
Family Program: World Holiday Traditions
This weekend, children can make dreidel cards, mkeka mats, and popcorn corn cobs, and enjoy story time. The featured choirs include Ursuline Academy, Diamond State Chorus, St. Mark's High School, and Concord Christian Academy. The holiday display and family activities are included in the cost of admission and are free for members. Children fourteen and under have free admission during the month of December and on January 1.

December 17 and 18 - Saturday and Sunday - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Belin House Organic Café Holiday Brunch
The special holiday brunch menu is prepared using farm-fresh, locally grown, sustainable and organic products. Featured specialties are a la carte and include made-to-order omelets, pumpkin leek soup, open-faced roasted turkey sandwiches, Maryland crab cakes, warm apple cider, and more. The Belin House Organic Café is self-service with self-seating, no reservations necessary.

December 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and January 1
Christmas at Hagley: Family-Friendly Activities
Visit the Gibbons House to learn about nineteenth-century homemaking. Try popping corn on the woodburning stove, making a paper ornament, or simply admiring the decorated tree. In the Brandywine Manufacturers' Sunday School, kids can write with quill pens or on a slate board, make a paper chain, or play with a ball and cup. The holiday display and family activities are included in the cost of admission and are free for members. Children fourteen and under have free admission during the month of December and on January 1.

December 24 - Saturday - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Belin House Organic Café Holiday Brunch
The special holiday brunch menu is prepared using farm-fresh, locally grown, sustainable and organic products. Featured specialties are a la carte and include made-to-order omelets, pumpkin leek soup, open-faced roasted turkey sandwiches, Maryland crab cakes, warm apple cider, and more. The Belin House Organic Café is self-service with self-seating, no reservations necessary.