Each year during the winter holiday season, Whitehall's first floor is transformed into a Christmas wonderland with historically accurate greenery, trimmings, and ribbons. The focal point is a 16-foot-tall Christmas Tree in the Grand Hall, adorned with colored electric "fairy" lights and traditional Gilded Age-style ornaments. The home's exterior as well as the historic front gate are also decorated with festive wreaths, ribbons, and greenery.
Holiday decorations are on display from late November through early January.
Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities
Sunday, December 3, 2023
12 to 5 pm
Free with Museum admission
The holiday season begins at Whitehall with a gathering on the first Sunday of December to light the Grand Hall Christmas Tree. The day will be filled with holiday cheer. Festive music will be played on the Odell organ and Steinway grand piano, there will be a special choir performance, refreshments will be served, and Santa Claus will make an appearance! Henry Flagler's youngest descendants will light the Museum's 16-foot tall Grand Hall Christmas Tree and the H. M. Flagler & Co. Museum Store will be open for holiday shopping.
The Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities sponsored in part by:
Special Christmas Discussion
The Square, Downtown West Palm Beach
Saturday, December 2, 2023
10 am
Free or $20 VIP with reserved seating
A special discussion, moderated by Flagler Museum Executive Director, John Blades, with author Les Standiford, and Maltz Jupiter Theatre Director, Andrew Kato, about how Charles Dickens came up with the story A Christmas Carol and the Maltz Jupiter Theater's production of the play by the same name. For more infomration please visit: The Square West Palm Beach.
You can enjoy the Maltz Jupiter Theatre production of "A Christmas Carol" from November 28 through December 10. For information and tickets please call (561) 232-6761 or visit: www.jupitertheatre.org/productions/a-christmas-carol
Special Holiday Lecture
"The Man Who Invented Christmas"
2:30 pm, Sunday, December 3, 2023
Free for Patron level Members and above
$10 per ticket for all other Members and non-Members
Includes Tree Lighting events
Does not include required Museum Admission
The origins of many beloved American Christmas traditions can be traced back to the Gilded Age. This year’s Christmas at Whitehall program features a lecture by author Les Standiford about the writing of his book, The Man Who Invented Christmas, about how Charles Dickens saved his career as an author and created an enduring Christmas tradition.
Holiday Evening Tours
December 19-23, 2023
Tours begin at: 6:00, 6:15, 6:30, and 6:45 pm
$50 for Adults
$30 for Children ages 17 and under
Advance purchase required
Free for Legacy and Visionary level (2 tickets) and Whitehall Society Members (2 tickets plus 2 children)
During this beloved annual event, families tour Whitehall after hours and discover the origins of American Christmas traditions. Holiday Evening Tours begin with a special Docent-led holiday tour of Whitehall, followed by a reception featuring carol singers, refreshments, and holiday-themed activities. Guests have the rare opportunity to experience Whitehall by the glow of the 1902 light fixtures. Every visitor receives a traditional Flagler Museum Christmas Cracker following the tour. The H. M. Flagler & Co. Museum Store will remain open during the program for holiday shopping.
