Kick off your holiday season with this annual favorite! Come enjoy Christmas games, live music, singing, holiday cookies, and a whole lot of history as costumed interpreters lead you on a candlelit tour through our historic area. Staff is taking COVID precautions and have made slight changes have been made to activities and logistics this year. This is a unique opportunity to see the Duke family home brought to life as it might have been in 1870 when the Dukes lived here!
Tours depart from the Visitor Center every 10 minutes. You will purchase tickets for a specific tour time. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early.
Each tour is limited to 15 people total.
**In accordance with local and state guidelines, masks are required for indoor settings like the Visitor Center and historic buildings, and encouraged outside if you are unable to social distance or when approaching a station.
Ticket Prices:
$6 + tax for adults
$4 + tax for kids ages 3-12
We are unable to offer refunds on purchased tickets. All cancelled tickets will be considered a donation to the site and will be used for future educational programming.
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FAQs
Do I have to buy tickets?
Yes, tickets are required to participate in this program.
When and where can I buy tickets?
We strongly encourage you to buy your tickets in advance via Eventbrite. This is the only way to pre-purchase tickets. It is possible that tickets will sell out before the day of the event. Please call us if you have questions or need help using Eventbrite: 919-627-6990.
We usually line up to purchase tickets at the door. Will you have tickets available at the door?
We cannot guarantee that tickets will be available at the door. Please consider pre-purchasing your tickets online to guarantee your spot.
I am bringing a large group. Can I purchase tickets for everyone?
Yes. And tickets to Christmas by Candlelight make fabulous holiday gifts...
Will it be dark or hard to see?
The tours take place at night in the historic area of our site, which does not have electric lighting. Guides with lanterns will walk you through the site, and some of your path will be illuminated with candle light. Visibility will be limited, and the paths are uneven.
What should I wear? Will I be cold?
This program takes place mostly outdoors in December. Some years it has been 70 degrees, and some years it has been 30. Please keep an eye on the weather and dress accordingly.
I am bringing an elderly person or someone with limited mobility. Will they be able to do this tour?
If this is the case for your group, please call the staff in advance (919-627-6990) of the event and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. The paths utilized on this tour are unpaved and uneven. One building on this tour is not wheelchair accessible. The entire tour is approximately 300 yards in distance, and visitors will be standing or walking most of the time.