Join "Mrs. Washington" as she hosts an enchanting evening of candlelight tours, fireside caroling, and hot cider and ginger cookies. Tours include merry music, and characters from Washingtons' world guiding visitors through the first and second floors of the home, adding ambiance and authenticity to a traditional Christmas evening at Mount Vernon. By popular demand, an additional weekend has been added this year.
Visitors will also meet a cast of friends and family of the famous founding couple. In the kitchen, the final stop on the tour, guests will hear about 18th-century holiday cooking, see Martha Washington's
Great Cake, and be given a complimentary copy of the recipe to try at home. Following the Mansion tour, guests are invited to stroll candlelit walks, join in fireside caroling, and enjoy complimentary hot cider and cookies.
The Food Court at Mount Vernon is open during Candlelight Tours for fresh and convenient meals and special holiday treats. The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, with its early-American fare and colonial servers, offers the perfect complement to the Mount Vernon by Candlelight program. Reservations are suggested for this popular dining experience.
The Shops at Mount Vernon are open late during Mount Vernon by Candlelight. Twelve themed departments, including The Christmas Corner, abound with a broad selection of unique gift items including holiday ornaments, estate jewelry, and an exceptional selection of gifts for children.
The event takes place Friday-Sunday, Nov. 23, 24 & 25; and Saturdays and Sundays: Dec. 1 and 2, Dec. 8 and 9, Dec. 15 and 16 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Ford Orientation Center (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily), or through MountVernon.org. Admission is $22
for adults and $15 for children under 12. Call 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); or visit www.MountVernon.org.