Essex County Historic Holiday House Tour
Residents are invited to tour Essex County's most famed historical homes and structures during the annual Historic Holiday House Tour. During one spectacular weekend, 12 homes and historic sites will be dressed for the holiday season while offering entertainment, refreshments, or educational opportunities.
Location Details
The Gypsy Farmhouse
106 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
973.239.9886 / www.gypsyfarmhouse.com
A 200-year-old farmhouse turned into a unique shop where you can find beautiful treasures of yesteryear. Owner Patty Cain turned her love of interior designing into a shop where you could find eccentric artifacts from real estate sales and beautiful custom built furniture from Lancaster County. Come and browse three floors of vintage collectables, holiday decorations and toys that will bring back fond memories. Open 1pm-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Kingsland Manor
3 Kingsland Street, Nutley
973.661.3410 / www.kingslandmanor.org
The 1700’s brownstone Dutch colonial home is steeped in history and beautifully decorated for the holiday season. Come explore the historic homestead of the Kingsland family and beyond, set within park-like grounds overlooking a pond and waterfalls. Admission is free. Donations are gratefully appreciated. Open 1pm-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Van Tassel Funeral Home
337 Belleville Avenue, Bloomfield
973.743.1234
Built approximately in 1850, the building has served as a funeral home since 1883. The oldest funeral home in Bloomfield has served the needs of over 20,000 families. There are old pictures, stained glass and artifacts. Listen to Christmas music while admiring holiday decorations. Each visitor will receive a free gift. Van Tassel Funeral Home will be taking pictures with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Decorate an ornament of your loved ones for our memorial tree. Admission is free. Open 12pm-4pm on Sunday.
Canfield-Morgan House & Museum
903 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
973.239.5414 / www.cedargrovehistoricalsociety.org
The last farm in Cedar Grove is a treasure. Tour the 1850 farmhouse and view photos, furniture, paintings, china, tools and historical artifacts from the area. Shop our barn market for local honey and gifts. Admission is free; donations accepted. Open 1pm-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Montclair Historical Society Property
Historic YWCA
110 Orange Road, Montclair
973.744.1796 / www.montclairhistorical.org
The Garden Club of Montclair decorates the Historic YWCA with period decorations from 1796 to 1965. Discover how our ancestors, recent and long ago, celebrated. Stop in at the hearth for holiday treats. There will be a holiday craft market and children’s activities, too. Admission is free. Open 12pm-3pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Essex County Kip’s Castle Park
22 Crestmont Road, Verona
973.433.7469 / www.essexcountyparks.org
Come home for the holidays and see Kip’s Castle decorated circa 1928. A dining room set for a holiday feast and a parlor festooned with greenery and ribbons. Refreshments will be provided. Admission is free. Open 12pm-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
474 Upper Mountain Avenue, Upper Montclair
973.783.5974 / www.presbyirisgardens.org
Built in 1865, the house was the residence of Mrs. Barbara Walther, a longtime caretaker of the gardens. Shop at the fabulous Bloom Room for inexpensive holiday gifts. Hot apple cider and cookies will be served. Large groups should call ahead for reservations. Admission is free. Open 12pm-3pm on Sunday.
The Livingston Historical Society
The Old Force Homestead
366 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston
908.347.2183 / livingstonhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
The Old Force Homestead, consisting of the Theophilus Ward/Thomas Force House and the Condit Family Cook House, is currently owned by the Township of Livingston and serves as both a museum and the headquarters for the Livingston Historical Society. This historical site was added to the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places in 1981. Originally built around 1745, the house was expanded significantly in the early 19th century and remains one of the few farmhouses from that era in Livingston of which much of its original structure and craftsmanship has been preserved. The farmhouse and surrounding park offer a unique glimpse into rural life in Essex County during the 18th and 19th centuries. Open 2-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Glenmont at Thomas Edison National Historical Park
211 Main Street, West Orange
973.736.0550, ext.11 / www.nps.gov/edis
Enjoy a special holiday tour of Thomas and Mina Edison’s home, Glenmont. Hear and see how the Edison family celebrated the holidays and enjoy traditional holiday decorations. Admission is $15 per person and free for children under 16. Tickets must be purchased at the Laboratory Complex Visitor Center the day of the tour and includes access to the Laboratory Complex. Glenmont tickets are limited and sell out quickly. The Laboratory Visitor Center is open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The Grover House
333 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
Grover House is in the heart of Caldwell’s Central Business District. The conversion of the building transformed the space into retail and professional. The renovation kept the beautiful architectural bones of the exterior. The building’s common areas feature a community art gallery and exhibition space for local artists to use on a pro bono basis. This provides a welcoming environment and dynamic entrance for tenants and their visitors, enhances connectivity with the community, and maximizes the use of energy and resources by utilizing space for multiple purposes. Admission is free. Open 12pm-4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The Ballantine House
49 Washington Street, Newark
973.596.6648
How do you celebrate winter holidays during the shortest days of the year? The Ballantines observed Christmas in The Ballantine House between 1885 and 1919. For the first time since 2019, experience 19th-century holiday celebrations with decorations and faux food on the first floor. Upstairs, look for new installations that highlight holiday cards and ornaments. Open 11am to 5pm on Saturday and
Sunday and from Thursday to Sunday until the end of December.
The Blanchard Estate
100 Blanchard Road, South Orange
973.803.9390 / yvonne@patterson-foundation.org
The Blanchard Estate was built by William L. Blanchard in 1924 and is celebrating its 100th year anniversary this year. The property historically was known for its brilliant Christmas lights, displayed each year as a seasonal and scenic attraction. Some of the lights that frame the mansion are still in good working condition. The mansion’s 100-year history is equally intriguing; its stately rooms tell a story, and it has a part in community folklore as a speakeasy during the bygone era of Prohibition. Admission $20 per adult; free for children and students. Reservations are encouraged for the tour. Parking is not available at the estate. Guests will be shuttled from a local parking area. For more information,reservations and details, email info@pattersonfoundation.org or text to 973.803.9390. Open 12-4pm on Saturday and 1-5pm on Sunday.
