Christmas at Blithewold 2026: Hours, Admission and Holiday Programs in Bristol, RI
Christmas at Blithewold is the holiday season at Blithewold, the historic manor, gardens and arboretum in Bristol, Rhode Island. Every year, volunteer decorators dress the Manor around a theme drawn from the Van Wickle/McKee family, who once celebrated Christmas and the New Year here. For 2026 the theme is Gifts of Nature: displays inspired by Blithewold's gardens, woodlands and shoreline, filling the rooms with birds, butterflies, woodland creatures, mushrooms, flowers, stars and storybook scenes, made with handmade decorations and natural materials.
Here's what you need to know before you go.
The essentials
- Dates: Tuesday, November 24, 2026 through Sunday, January 3, 2027
- Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11am–7pm. Closed Mondays, except most Monday holidays and school vacation weeks.
- Closed: November 26 (Thanksgiving), December 24 and December 25
- Where: Blithewold, 101 Ferry Road (Route 114), Bristol, RI 02809
- Admission: $22 adults, $11 ages 11–16, $6 ages 6–10, $50 family (2 adults and 2 children). Pay at the Welcome Center when you arrive.
- Parking: on site, down the main driveway on the left
Tickets and admission
Blithewold no longer sells general admission online. You buy it at the Welcome Center, the building next to the parking lot, when you arrive. General admission covers the Manor and the grounds.
Current general admission prices:
- Adults (17 and up): $22
- Youth (11–16): $11
- Children (6–10): $6
- Family (2 adults and 2 children): $50
- Military and students: $18
- Cyclists: $14
- SNAP/EBT: $2
- Blithewold members, reciprocal garden members (including NARM) and young children: free
These are Blithewold's posted general admission prices; check the admission page before you go in case holiday pricing differs.
What you'll see
The tour of the Manor is self-guided. Docents on each floor answer questions, there's text to read in most rooms, and a free audio tour is available on your phone. Blithewold says the Manor takes about 45 minutes and the grounds about an hour.
The Christmas season has longer evening hours than the rest of the year: the Manor and grounds stay open until 7pm, and the Shop at Blithewold stays open until 8pm, Tuesday through Sunday.
Holiday programs
Blithewold runs separately ticketed programs during the season. General admission does not cover them. Programs on the 2026 calendar include:
- Winter Afternoon Tea, on dates through January 1, by online prepaid reservation only
- Sing-Along With Santa, on dates from November 30 to December 14, 5–7pm
- Children's Holiday Tea, on dates from December 7 to December 21, 5–7pm
- Music in the Living Room Series, December 12–20, 1–2pm
- A Christmas Carol theatrical reading by Michael Langlois, Sunday, December 20, 6–8pm
Members get first access to several of these; check the programs and events page for dates, prices and availability.
Accessibility
- Only the first floor of the Manor is wheelchair accessible, and there is no elevator. The free audio tour covers both floors.
- There are accessible parking spaces in the lot, plus more down the main drive near the staff entrance. Ring the bell there and staff will bring you into the Manor.
- Accessible restrooms are at the staff entrance and in the Visitors' Center.
- About 80% of the outdoor paths are semi-loose gravel. Benches are marked on the map you get on arrival.
Food, pets and getting there
- Food: there's no café. Outside of scheduled teas, Blithewold doesn't serve food. Downtown Bristol, about five minutes away, has restaurants. There's a free water bottle refill station in the Visitors' Center.
- Pets: only service animals are allowed on the property. Blithewold asks that you not leave pets in your car.
- Getting there: Blithewold is on the RIPTA #60 bus route and, by its own description, a half hour or less from Providence and Newport.
Q: When is Christmas at Blithewold 2026?
It runs from Tuesday, November 24, 2026 through Sunday, January 3, 2027. Blithewold is closed Mondays (except most Monday holidays and school vacation weeks), and on November 26, December 24 and December 25.
Q: What are the hours for Christmas at Blithewold?
During the Christmas season the Manor and grounds are open Tuesday through Sunday, 11am–7pm. The Shop at Blithewold is open until 8pm.
Q: How much does Christmas at Blithewold cost?
General admission is $22 for adults, $11 for ages 11–16, $6 for ages 6–10, and $50 for a family of two adults and two children. You pay at the Welcome Center when you arrive.
Q: Can I buy Blithewold tickets online?
No. Blithewold has stopped selling general admission online, so you buy it at the Welcome Center. Afternoon teas are the exception: they are sold by online prepaid reservation only.
Q: Is Blithewold wheelchair accessible?
Partly. The first floor of the Manor and the grounds are accessible, but there is no elevator to the second floor, and most outdoor paths are gravel. A free audio tour covers both floors.
More holiday events nearby
- Holidays at the Newport Mansions — Newport, November 21 – January 3
- Glen Manor Christmas Open House — Portsmouth, December 6
- Bowen's Wharf Christmas Tree Lighting — Newport, December 5
Check each listing for hours and admission before you go.
Related reading
- Holiday Craft Fairs & Christmas Markets in Rhode Island 2026
- New England Christmas Strolls and Village Holiday Celebrations 2026
- Holidays at the Newport Mansions 2026: Hours, Tickets and Sparkling Lights at The Breakers
- Rhode Island Fairs and Festivals 2026: Your Complete Guide
- WaterFire Providence: Complete Guide
Details in this guide come from Blithewold's website as of late September 2026. Confirm hours, admission and program dates on the official site before you go.
Last updated: September 2026
