Holiday Celebrations

The return of these annual holidays is the signal for bringing friends together, and uniting around the family fireside.

—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1828

 

NPS Photo

Annual Holiday Open House

Friday, December 11, 2026

1:00-4:00 pm Early-bird open house
5:00-8:00 pm Evening open house
105 Brattle Street, Cambridge MA
Free and open to all, no reservations needed

Plan Ahead: Before entering the historic house, you will be required to store all purses, backpacks, and other bags (including small ones) at our bag check. To skip the line, we recommend leaving these at home!

Early-Bird Open House

1-4 pm (last entry at 3:45 pm)
Skip the crowds and enjoy the Longfellow House, decorated in period style with special seasonal objects from the site's museum collection, during the afternoon hours.

Evening Open House

5-8 pm (last entry at 7:45 pm) Enjoy a luminaria display on the grounds and stroll the halls of the Longfellow House, decorated in period style with special seasonal objects from the site's museum collection. Live harp music will enliven the carriage house.

 

Complete Your Holiday Open House Experience

Family fun and refreshments in the Carriage House

1-4 pm, 4-8 pm
Start and end your experience in the Longfellow Carriage House for festive family fun including live harp music, “take-and-make” crafts, and treats for all ages. Cookies and hot beverages will be served.

Sunset Poetry Reading

4-4:15 pm
Join us in front of the Longfellow House for a special sunset reading of Longfellow's beloved 1864 poem "Christmas Bells."

 

Visitors read the Longfellow children's letters to Santa.

Sam Mckenzie

"Pleasure Books for Young Children" was one of the many books given as gifts by the Longfellows.

Sam Mckenzie

Seasonal harp music enlivens the open house.

Sam Mckenzie

The interior of the historic house features seasonal items from the site's museum collection.

Sam Mckenzie

Staff share special stories of the house's holiday history.

NPS / Eric Hanson Plass

A luminaria display lights up the Longfellow House lawn during the evening Open House.

NPS / Eric Hanson Plass

 

Thank you to the Friends of the Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters for supporting this annual event.

 

Holiday Baking Extravaganza

Watch staff tackle making festive historic foods, and get the recipes to try it yourself!

Christmas Bells

Set to music early on, the poem "Christmas Bells" became part of the Christmas carol canon.

Hands on History: Holidays!

Join our rangers as they try out crafts the Longfellow children might have made for the holidays