Each year the Mansion rings in the holiday season by opening its doors on the day after Thanksgiving. For many Mainers, experiencing the Mansion bedecked for Christmas has become a holiday tradition without which the season would not be complete. In recent years the museum has added additional programs during the Christmas season, including this partnership with Portland Ballet.
"It's wonderful to be able to offer special programs like this that appeal to children and families," says the Mansion's Director of Education and Visitor Services Lucinda Hannington. "All too often museums are thought of as static institutions that aren't accessible to children; we strive to make the Mansion welcoming and engaging for all ages."
During its Christmas season, the Mansion expects to welcome nearly 10,000 visitors, most of them from Maine. "Christmas is a time to welcome the local community and to show off the amazing piece of history right here in Portland," says Executive Director Tom Johnson. "Victoria Mansion is a great place for children; there is so much to see everywhere you look. Partnerships with other local arts organizations help to keep the Mansion a dynamic place that visitors will return to time and time again."
Between their performances, ballerinas will engage with visitors as they enjoy the lavish decorations for this year's theme, Joy to the World. Holiday décor in the rooms will represent the Christmas traditions of different countries.
Night of the Nutcracker with Portland Ballet is Sunday, December 8 with staggered admission from 5:00pm-6:30pm. With every paying adult, two children under 17 are granted free admission. Admission is $15.00 for the general public, $13.50 for seniors and AAA members, $7.00 for college students (with ID), $5.00 for additional children. Victoria Mansion members have free admission, but to avoid disappointment should reserve tickets in advance.
Constructed between 1858 and 1860, Victoria Mansion is one of America's finest surviving examples of architecture and interior design from the mid-nineteenth century. Its opulent original interiors and furnishings by renowned designer Gustave Herter remain more than ninety percent intact. The house has been open to the public as a non-profit museum since 1941 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1971.
Victoria Mansion is deeply grateful to the following sponsors of Christmas at Victoria Mansion: Down East Magazine, 98.9 WCLZ, WPFO FOX 23, Bangor Savings Bank, Verrill Dana LLP, WEX, and Mister Sparky.
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