Photo courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
Get ready for Mount Vernon by Candlelight!
Tickets are now on sale for Mount Vernon by Candlelight. Step back in time through history with Mount Vernon on a 45-minute candlelit tour of the estate to celebrate the build-up to the 250th anniversary of American Independence. Arrive at the Ford Orientation Center 15 minutes before your ticket time to view themed Christmas trees and warm up with light concessions.
Dates are:
- Nov. 28 - Nov. 29, 2025
- Dec. 12 - Dec. 13, 2025
- Dec. 19, 2025
- Dec. 22 - Dec. 23, 2025
The candlelit tours are scheduled from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. on those dates.
Photo courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
Christmas Illuminitions at Mount Vernon
Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon
Tickets are also now on sale for Christmas Illuminiations at Mount Vernon.
Kick off the holiday season with an evening of festive lights and spectacular fireworks over the Potomac River. Talk to soldiers at an 18th-century winter encampment, and meet our holiday guest, Aladdin the Camel. Find ticket information here.
Dates are:
Dec. 20 - Dec. 21, 2025
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Mount Vernon by Candlelight - Visit Washington's Mansion
Learn about holiday traditions of 18th-century Virginia, and hear stories of Christmases past from costumed character interpreters portraying Washington’s family, friends and enslaved or hired staff.
Explore the lantern-lit historic area, stopping at the slave quarters, outbuildings, and inside Washington’s Mansion. Some rooms in the Mansion will be off-view due to our preservation work.
Learn about holiday traditions of 18th-century Virginia with music, sweet treats, and a visit from a special Mount Vernon resident.
- Greet Aladdin, the Christmas camel, on the 12-acre field.
- Participate in 18th-century dancing in the greenhouse.
- Listen to music and caroling while enjoying complimentary ginger cookies and spiced cider in the Education Center Lobby.
Explore a Revolutionary War encampment to discover what it was like to be a Continental Army soldier stationed outside of Cambridge, Massachusetts during 1775.
Throughout the encampment, you'll learn about:
- The first Christmas of the Revolutionary War
- Martha Washington's special Twelfth Night celebration
- George Washington's command of the army
- African American involvement in the war
- The importance of capturing Boston during the war
Mount Vernon by Candlelight is an interior Mansion tour and outdoor walking tour at night.
Please dress for the weather conditions. Be prepared for low temperatures, varying levels of light and uneven walkways. The 12-acre field has no paved paths and some uneven ground.
The first floor of the Mansion is accessible by wheelchair.
Please note, while Mount Vernon enjoys your four-legged friends during the daytime, pets are not allowed on the grounds for evening events.
Still have questions? Visit the FAQ Page for this event.
