Celebrating the Holidays at Highfield Hall & Gardens

Top decorators and designers showcase their talents in the elegant rooms of Highfield Hall beginning November 29, in an annual event that offers a little something for everything this holiday season.

Join your Cape Cod neighbors for seasonal piano music while browsing an extensive Gift Gallery perfect for holiday shopping with items ranging from fine crafts to hostess gifts and a wreath sale. Enjoy home-made goodies and the debut of the Highfield Blend tea in the tea shoppe. Santa will be available by the elegant fireplaces on weekends to greet children and pose for informal family snapshots.

Special exhibits include Salley Mavor's Pocketful of Posies Christmas tree and doll house, a Victorian Regina music box with 120 musical discs and a recreation of a Victorian Christmas parlor. The new Highfield Reading Room will also be featured as well as the Any Soldier® project.

View Bill Hendel's much loved international crèche collection of over 60 miniature crèches. This diverse and beautiful collection of nativity scenes from countries all around the globe includes works in wide variety of media ranging from clay, porcelain, wax, fiber, straw, metal and many different types of wood.

$5 admission includes all activities*, children are free

*Additional fees do apply to some of the following programs, as indicated:

November 29 – December 1, 12-4pm South Shore Hi-Railers Model Trains

Come see the South Shore Hi-Railers Club's O gauge model trains chugging around the tracks during the first weekend of the Holidays. The set-up by the Club will feature Lionel, MTH, K-Line electric freight and diesel trains. A crowd favorite for young and old alike!

December 3, from 6pm-8pm Boxwood Tabletop Tree Workshop with Anna Holmes

Create a tabletop tree with guidance and encouragement from local floral designer and teacher Anna Holmes. Made with natural ingredients and decorated in the color scheme of your choice, this festive seasonal decoration will last through the season! Choose bows of red, green, silver, gold or ivory, along with small ornaments and beaded garlands. Materials and instruction are included in the workshop fee of $50/$45 members.

December 5, 3-5pm Felice Navidad! A Festive Mexican Holiday Feast with Peggy Eagan

After her popular Three Generations of Mexican Cooking series last year, Personal Chef Peggy Eagan returns to show us how to prepare a Mexican holiday feast. Starting with a warm fruit punch (Ponche Navideno), she will move along to a traditional Christmas Eve salad (Ensalada de noche Buena) and then demonstrate how to make Tamales and Pozole. We will finish with a variation on the beloved Mexican Wedding Cookies, using pistachios and dried cherries.

Peggy's classes sell out quickly so sign up soon! $39/$34 members.

The weekend of December 7 will include a family activity room with crafts and a Nutcracker theme. Visit www.highfieldhall.org for a complete schedule of performances and activities.

December 12, 6:30 pm Holiday Pajama Story Time

Stop by Highfield Hall in your jammies with the whole family to enjoy stories and song celebrating the holidays. Sponsored by The Coalition for Children, the Falmouth Public Library and the West Falmouth Library, this program is free of charge. For more information, phone 508-457-2555 ext 2925.

December 14, 7-11pm Highfield Hall Holiday Ball

This annual gala benefits the educational programs of Highfield Hall & Gardens. The evening features elegant hors d'oeuvres and entrée stations by Chef Roland, complimentary cocktails, music for dancing by the Marsels, traditional holiday caroling and a silent auction. Tickets are $125 per person ($50 is a tax-deductible donation). Purchase online at highfieldhall.org or call 508-495-1878, ext. 2.

December 22, 3pm & 7pm Around the Fireplace: A Stay at Home Holiday at Highfield Hall

Tasteful holiday commentary and humor provided by hosts the Revs. Deborah Warner and David Calhoun, beautiful selections of holiday classics such as "White Christmas" and cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach performed by pianist Robert Wyatt, and the lovely and graceful sounds of folk singers Liz Rogers and John Yankee.

If you are a fan of Garrison Keller's Prairie Home Companion, you'll love A Stay at Home Holiday at Highfield Hall. Some hot apple cider and cookies round out this heart-warming, seasonal program. $35/$30 members.

All photographs published courtesy of Highfield Hall & Gardens

For more information about Holidays at Highfield Hall & Gardens visit www.highfieldhall.org