The holiday season has arrived in case you missed the Christmas decorations on sale at Walmart for the last few weeks! This is our third year of operating the Gibson House Manor as a museum and cultural event center, and our third Christmas planning year. We had twelve hard-working volunteers and staff helping us all summer to get ready for the second annual Victorian International Christmas exhibit and tour. Here is a quick summary of what we have planned (plus a sneak peek at January 2026):
In addition to our daily Underground Railroad Tours (which will continue all through the holidays), we have our monthly International Dinner (England) on Wednesday night, November 19th at 5:30 pm (full traditional British dinner including Shepherd’s Pie and beef roast with roasted potatoes, appetizers and dessert including a traditional English trifle, and wine pairings through Gatehouse Winery). Attendees may also tour the house to see the Victorian Christmas decorations. Tickets available through our website or calling 724.456.4983. Friday, November 21st is our monthly British High Tea which will feature a Victorian Christmas menu and open seating begins at 2:30 pm. Christmas tours available afterwards. Pre-registration needed on our website or by phone to our reservation line. Ladies Luncheon and Christmas Tea also on Friday November 21st at 1 pm in Susan Gibson’s Dining Room….”Free and Low Cost Christmas Gift Idea Exchange for the holidays”….meal served is the same Victorian Christmas High Tea that is being served in the Black and White Room on Friday, November 21st at 2:30 pm. Christmas house tours also included with the Luncheon and the Victorian Christmas Tea.
First glimpse public tours begin on Saturday, November 22nd (during the Christmas Market, which includes a variety of holiday vendors set up inside the Manor Lodge) along with free hot chocolate and donuts with Santa in the Lodge—lower level—give Santa your Christmas list and stay for a photo booth picture as a keepsake. Santa and Mrs. Claus from 10 am to 1 pm). Tickets for house tours are only $5 that day and you can walk through the entire house to see the traditions of 11 countries that emigrated to the United States in the 1800’s (including Poland, Yugoslavia, Japan and Greece this year!!). Tour tickets are $12 and $10 for the rest of the season.
Other highlights include the Buffet Christmas Dinner—Christmas lasagna, salad, fresh fruit and chicken tenders and fries for kids, Gingerbread Workshop (make your own gingerbread house and decorate it and take it home) and dinner with Santa and Christmas House Tour on Saturday, November 29th at 4 pm….Santa will be there from 5 to 7 pm that night…free hot chocolate and Christmas cookies while you give Santa and Mrs. Claus your Christmas list; Christmas house tours on eight other nights during the holidays….Friday and Saturday, December 5 and 6th from 5-7 pm….Saturday December 13th 5-7 pm….Friday December 19th from 5-7 pm…Saturday December 27th from 5-7 pm….Final Victorian Christmas Tours on Friday and Saturday January 2nd and 3rd from 5-7 pm. (check the website for dates and tickets) and a Christmas Victorian High Tea and House Tour on Boxing Day, December 26th. The Manor will still be open for Underground Railroad Tours every day in November and December.
Beginning in January and for the winter months (January, February and March), we will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday for public tours and open for private events on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays until March 31st. We go back to our 7 day per week schedule on April 1st. We also decided because of the popularity of the Paranormal Ghost Tours to invite Three Souls Paranormal back in January, February and March for winter lasagna dinners and ghost tours and paranormal investigations (tickets limited for these events/available on our website). Paranormal presentations and overnights on Saturday January 17, February 21, March 21, April 11, September 26, October 3, 10 and 24 in 2026. Check out the website for complete details.
A special shout out and thank you to the groups and organizations that helped us with Christmas decorating this year…..they include: Jamestown Area High School, Jamestown High School National Honor Society, Walberg Pharmacy, Rita Kania (Historic Education Committee) and Friends, Jamestown Area Historical Society, Jamestown Coating Technologies, Gruver Family, VFW Auxiliary Post 5424, Anita Carr, Historic Education Committee Co-Chair, Abigail Evans, Gibson House Manor history intern, St. Paul’s Retirement Community, Erma and Cathy Weaver, Sandy Superak and Winner Corporation, Laurel Alexander and Lindell Bridges Family, Historic Education Committee, Marguerite and John Scullin, Vice Chair and Secretary and Finance Committee, and Jamestown Brownies and Girl Scouts from Troops 30897, 52711, 30194 and 46729…. and Arrow Electric.
We are grateful to our family and friends in this community and all through the region for your help and support all through this year. Hope to see you soon! AFB MMS JEB