Event Type: History & Museums

Celebrate the advent of the Christmas season in Jeffersonian style at Poplar Forest. Explore the president’s cherished hideaway by candlelight on this hour-long holiday tour. See how early Americans decorated with fresh greens for the holidays as your guide paints intimate portraits of the Jefferson family’s celebration and Christmas at the Quarter Site, drawn from true stories and anecdotes discovered in Jefferson’s letters and diaries. The tour is followed by refreshments in the Museum Shop.

December 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 2025
5:30pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm each night

Cost: $30 pp.  Reservations are required.

Virginia Museum of the Civil War at New Market Battlefield State Historical Park
8895 George Collins Parkway, New Market, VA

Join us at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War as we celebrate the holiday season at the museum, battlefield, and Bushong Farm!  Explore the museum and make take home crafts, enjoy festive treats, and see a special Christmas film.  Take a step back into 1859 and visit the Bushong family as they cook, sing, and tell stories in anticipation of a special Christmas visitor.

Event tickets go on sale Dec 6th at 10:00 a.m., and can be purchased at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War.  Event prices are $10 per adult (ages 13 and older) $6 per youth (ages 6-12) Children 5 and under are free, $5 for New Market residents (ages 6+) with proof of residency.  Receive one free admission with the donation of four non-perishable food items. Donations will benefit New Market’s Holiday Food Drive.

All event tickets are only valid the day of the event.

Celebrate the advent of the Christmas season in Jeffersonian style at Poplar Forest. Explore the president’s cherished hideaway by candlelight on this hour-long holiday tour. See how early Americans decorated with fresh greens for the holidays as your guide paints intimate portraits of the Jefferson family’s celebration and Christmas at the Quarter Site, drawn from true stories and anecdotes discovered in Jefferson’s letters and diaries. The tour is followed by refreshments in the Museum Shop.

December 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 2025
5:30pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm each night

Cost: $30 pp.  Reservations are required.

Enjoy Poplar Forest decked out for the holidays on this special daytime tour that focuses on holiday traditions of the Jefferson time period. These hour-long, docent guided tours explore how Jefferson and his family celebrated the holidays and takes a look at how the holiday season impacted the enslaved community. These tours are only offered twice in December and reservations are strongly recommended.

Tickets are 

• $30 for adults 18+
• $17 for college students and teens (ages 12-17) 
• $11 for youth (ages 6-11)
• under 6 free

Step back in time to experience the magic of Christmas past at a seated holiday dinner in Thomas Jefferson’s villa. Join Mr. Jefferson, as portrayed by actor Bill Barker, to celebrate the season with a multicourse dinner with wine pairings. Following dinner Mr. Jefferson will regale his guests with stories about the holiday traditions popular during his time. Must be 21 and older.

• $200 per person or $375 per couple. Reservations are required and must be made at least a week prior to dinner for catering consideration.