The beautiful and historic Van Vleck House & Gardens kicks off the holiday season with Deck the Halls, an annual festival of trees, wreaths and topiaries decorated for silent auction. The first floor of the Van Vleck home will be decked out with the holiday handiwork of over twenty revered local artists and designers, including Rabbit Rabbit, the Banyon Tree and The Montclair Garden Club.  Additional themes span The Metropolitan Museum, Seaside Memories, Baseball and Webkinz.  A holiday boutique will offer fun and fine gifts including, holiday ornaments, home décor and signed photographs of our local baseball legend, Yogi Berra.  Sealed bids will be accepted throughout the three-day celebration for auction items.

The Van Vleck Gardens are open to the public year round.

Public viewing hours for Deck the Halls are:

Thursday, November 15th - 10 am – 6 pm
Friday, November 16th - 10 am –8 pm
Saturday, November 17th - 10 am – 2 pm

General admission is $5; children under 12 are free.

Special events will kick off on Thursday evening from 7:30 – 10:00 pm at “Tis The Season for Wine & Deserts.”  Guests will test their knowledge and expand their horizons as local sommeliers offer a blind tasting of wines especially suited for the holiday season. They'll also answer questions on dessert wine pairings and discuss the unique features of dessert wines.   Complimenting the wine selections, tantalize your taste buds with fine desserts, cheeses and chocolates.  

On Saturday morning, Santa will make a pre-season visit from the North Pole. Children will have the chance to share their holiday wish list with Santa and have a picture taken with him.  They’ll also be invited to visit the newly renovated Van Vleck Education Center to make a nature craft with one of Santa’s very favorite elves, Michelle Wiessner.  Michelle also happens to be Van Vleck’s Education Director.   Visits with Santa will take place in the main house during two sessions: 8:30-9:30 am or 9:30-10:30 am.  As with all of the special events, reservations will be required.

You’ll think you’re in Edinburgh at Saturday evening’s 6:00 pm “Mad for Plaid” closing cocktail party.   Scrumptious Scottish fare by Claudia will compliment merry tunes reminiscent of Christmas at Balmoral. Bidding will end at 8:45 pm on Saturday and winners will be announced later that evening.  

Proceeds from the three-day “Deck The Halls” celebration, combined with a generous donation from PNC Bank, will be used for maintenance of the gardens and educational programs.

Check out www.vanvleck.org for the latest information on special events, or call (973) 744-4752.

Van Vleck House & Gardens at 21 Van Vleck Street in Montclair is dedicated to preserving for public enrichment the spirit and beauty of the late 19th and early 20th century house and gardens. Continuing the Van Vleck family’s commitment to the community and horticultural excellence, the house serves as a center for non-profit organizations and the gardens are open to the public for display, education and research.

DECK THE HALLS
Van Vleck House & Gardens
21 Van Vleck Street
Montclair, New Jersey
(973) 744-0837
www.vanvleck.org