Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Announces 2026 Holiday Offerings, Including New Family Holiday Tour

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello today announced its 2026 holiday season offerings, headlined by the new Family Holiday Tour and the 40th anniversary of its Wreath Workshops.

Available for a limited time, the Family Holiday Tour offers a 45-minute guided experience designed for families with children ages 5-11. This hands-on tour visits the first floor of the house and explores how all who lived on the Monticello mountaintop celebrated the holidays.  

The Holiday Evening Tour, recommended for guests ages 7 and older, offers a rare opportunity to see Monticello after dark, decorated with holiday greenery in the style of Jefferson’s era. One of Monticello’s premier tours, this 90-minute guided experience visits all three floors of the house, including the iconic Dome Room, providing an intimate glimpse into what life at Monticello would have been like during the holiday season.  

Tickets for both tours include hot cider and cookies at the Museum Shop, as well as live musical performances at the David M. Rubinstein Visitor Center on select evenings. To accompany the Family Holiday Tour, the Griffin Discovery Room at the Visitor Center will be open from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with a special activity for kids. 

“The holidays are a special season to visit Monticello and participate in our time-honored traditions,” said Rachel Baum, director of education and visitor programs. “We’re especially excited to share our kid-friendly Family Holiday Tour and provide a new way for families to experience history and make lasting memories together.” 

The Museum Shop and Jefferson Vineyards will be open throughout the season, with a wide selection of food, drink, home decor, books, furniture, and more. Holiday shoppers will find something for everyone on their list, from the wine lover to the history buff to the budding botanist. Monticello Members receive a 10% discount when they visit the Museum Shop. 

Explore Monticello’s full holiday lineup and learn more about each of these special offerings below.  

Related images and assets are available for download here. 

2026 Holiday Offerings at Monticello: 

Wreath Workshops: Nov. 28-Dec. 6 

Ring in the holidays with the 40th anniversary of Monticello’s beloved wreath-making workshops, led by an expert team of floral designers and gardeners. Participants will design, create, and bring home a beautiful wreath to last through the season. Learn more and purchase Wreath Workshop tickets. 

Family Holiday Tour: Dec. 18-23 and 26-27 

This new hands-on tour is fun for the whole family. Learn more and purchase Family Holiday Tour tickets. 

Holiday Evening Tour: Dec. 18-23 and 26-27 

Get an after-hours look at Monticello’s favorite holiday traditions. Learn more and purchase Holiday Evening Tour tickets. 

Give the Gift of Monticello Membership  

A Monticello Membership makes for a meaningful gift for friends or family who love learning about the past or spending time in a beautiful, historic place. Membership supports preservation and education at Thomas Jefferson’s mountaintop and provides year-round access, exclusive perks, and discounts — including 10% off in person at the Museum Shop. It’s a gift that lasts all year and supports something truly special. Learn more and gift a membership. 

About Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello 

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation was incorporated in 1923 to preserve Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, in Charlottesville, Virginia. As a civic institution, Monticello seeks to increase knowledge and share the ideals Jefferson articulated in the Declaration of Independence through programming and scholarship built upon a foundation of rigorous research.  

Monticello is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a United Nations World Heritage Site, and a Site of Conscience. As a private, nonprofit organization, Monticello receives no ongoing local, state, or federal funding. Visitors and the generosity of donors make Monticello’s twofold mission of preservation and education possible. For information, visit monticello.org.