Description

Join us for the 2025 Holiday Season as we proudly present our seventh annual “Deck The Halls” holiday celebration!

Proof of Gloucester residency is required at check-in for all those with Gratis Day admission reservations.
- Gloucester Gratis Days Self-Guided Tours are available every Tuesday throughout the entire 2025 tour season from     May 6th through January 4th.
- Advance registration is recommended but not required. You may also register upon arrival in the Museum Shop.

Travel back in time to a castle filled with lush, opulent textures inspired by the great medieval and Renaissance castles of Europe. Wander through rooms adorned with White Birch and Christmas trees, sparkling fairy lights, hydrangea-lace garlands, and elegant bows, each space transformed with its own unique holiday theme. From nature’s bounty of fruits and greenery to the warm glow of candlelight, every detail creates a true feast for the senses. Along the way, you will encounter a royal guard of nutcrackers standing watch over a gingerbread house replica of the castle. Keep an eye out for playful elves and gnomes who are up to mischief - great fun for little ones! This year, the celebration will also shine with the glow of two menorahs on display, honoring the traditions of Hanukkah within the Museum's holiday splendor.

For the first time, we are pleased to feature design elements created in partnership with Elaine Quinn Interiors, a boutique residential interior design firm based in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, bringing fresh inspiration and artistry to this year’s holiday presentation.

In addition to the holiday installation, guests will also have the opportunity to experience the Hammond in Italy temporary exhibition, which highlights John Hays Hammond Jr.’s time abroad and the profound influence Italian art and architecture had on his vision for the castle.

Guests should plan for approximately 60 minutes in total to take in the full holiday grandeur.