With the arrival of the end of November, the HOLIDAY HYPE has begun.
The hype is not without worthy reason though. This year, Glensheen is celebrating the holiday season in an even bigger way.
- You have the chance to eat like a Congdon and enjoy their 1911 Thanksgiving menu at Restaurant 301 the entire month of November.
- A Glensheen Christmas is kicking off a week earlier, the same weekend that Bentleyville, Duluth’s outdoor light display starts too.
- Duluth Loves Local’s event, Duluth Winter Village is back at Glensheen.
Here is the line up of end of November happenings at the Mansion:
Secrets of Glensheen | November 1, 8, 15, 29
Congdon’s Thanksgiving Dinner at Restaurant 301 | Month of November
A Glensheen Christmas | November 18, 2017 — January 7, 2018
Duluth Loves Local’s Duluth Winter Village | December 2nd & 3rd
Secrets of Glensheen
Come to Secrets of Glensheen to catch a glimpse of RARELY SEEN Glensheen items. These are the things we don’t show you, the stories you don’t hear.
Secrets of Glensheen is your chance to see these special items that aren’t out on display in the mansion. Glensheen Collections Manager Milissa Brooks-Ojibway will showcase various objects from the Glensheen collection that have been hidden out of sight from visitors.
As Glensheen’s Collections Manager, Milissa is responsible for the proper care and preservation of the objects in the mansion. Therefore, she sees all of the cool and interesting objects in Glensheen’s collection every day. More often than not, these are objects that the public rarely has the opportunity to see.
Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions and get up close with these rarely seen objects.
Secrets of Glensheen will take place every Wednesday night in November from 7:00 pm — 8:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public.
Guests will enter through the front door of the mansion, with the event itself in the Amusement Room.
The Congdon’s Thanksgiving Dinner
You’ve never been able to do this… until now.
Eat like a Congdon at Restaurant 301 — The Congdon’s Thanksgiving meal from 1911. What else could be more perfectly paired with a tour?
We’ve partnered with the Sheraton Duluth Hotel and Restaurant 301 to bring you a unique opportunity to enjoy a menu inspired by The Congdon’s 1911 Thanksgiving Menu. This authentic menu will be served throughout the month of November at Restaurant 301 located within the Sheraton Duluth Hotel.
You can purchase tickets for this experience at Sheraton Duluth Hotel or Restaurant 301. These tickets include a 5-course meal at Restaurant 301 and two discounted Glensheen tour tickets to be used at your convenience.
There are multiple ways for you to dine like a tycoon:
- The Taste of History Package. This includes a $50 gift certificate from Restaurant 301 for two guests to enjoy a four-course meal and two discounted Glensheen Classic Tour tickets. (Need not be a Sheraton hotel guest to purchase this package.)
- Choose the November special when dining at Restaurant 301
Check out the tasty meal…
Amuse Bouche — Oysters a la Glenholme; Baked Oyster on the Half Shell, Arugula, Pernod, Fennel, Garlic, Scallions, Asiago
First Course- Grapefruit & Raspberry Salad; Pink Grapefruit, Raspberries, Butter Lettuce, Honey Citrus Vinaigrette
Second Course- Tomato Basil Bisque; Vine Tomatoes, Fresh Basil, Crème Fraiche
And for the main attraction… the Third Course:
Roast Turkey a la Clara Congdon.
All Natural Ferndale Farms of Minnesota Butter Basted Turkey, Giblet Gravy, Roasted Granny Smith Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes, Snap Peas, Poached Pearl Onions, Honey Roasted Butternut Squash Puree, Cranberry Relish
Fourth Course- Ice Cream a la Vermont; Housemade Three Milk Sponge Cake, Maple Brown Sugar Ice Cream
We had to try it to make sure it was up to snuff for all of you. By golly, it sure was. Thumbs up from me.
A Glensheen Christmas
The 25 Christmas Trees are arriving a week early this year. Saturday, November 18th, you will have the chance to “ooh” and “aahh” at the beautifully adorned Christmas trees.
Glensheen staffers work hard to deck the halls of our 27,000 square foot mansion. Props to all who help make the 25 Christmas trees happen!
Back by popular demand, the hidden elves have found new hiding spots in the mansion. Along with the 25 Christmas Trees, eye-spy the 25 mischievously hidden elves throughout the mansion.
In the kitchen, sample a Christmas cookie recreated from Clara’s very own recipe. These cookies are made locally by Johnson’s Bakery.
New to the Christmas experience this year is the Elf Book. Because of the success of this summer’s Treasure Book, we’ve modified it to become the Elf Book. Enhance your family-friendly Glensheen experience with the new Elf Book, and follow along with Eve the Elf to find her hidden elf friends, Christmas trees, and more. As an interactive guide for children, this fun and educational book will engage the little ones in your group. (It’s great for kiddos and the kids at heart.)
Also new to the Christmas experience this year are Christmas sweaters. Not just any Christmas sweater, an Ugly Glensheen Christmas sweater. Glensheen staffers will be wearing them this season, and they are also available to the public for a limited time.
The custom design features all-things Glensheen, from woodworking patterns to secretly hidden Christmas characters. And, in kelly green, it’s almost guaranteed to clash with everything. The 2017 edition is only offered for a limited time, so get yours today at https://glensheen.org/gift-shop/.
Arguably the best addition to the Glensheen Christmas experience is the Candlelight Tour.
Photo Credit: Matthew Moses Photography
Find yourself in the mansion being guided by the lights of the Christmas trees. This gorgeous display will surely make it onto your yearly Christmas bucket list, as you are fully immersed into what it must have been like for the Congdons on a magical Christmas evening.
In a few words: It is absolutely awesome.
Photo Credit: Matthew Moses Photography
On this guided tour, each group is accompanied by two guides who will illuminate pieces throughout the house, a truly immersive Christmas experience.
During the Christmas season, the Classic Tour will be fully guided Monday through Friday; on Saturdays and Sundays, the tour will be self-guided.
Candlelight Tours are offered Fridays and Saturday nights from 7–10 pm then the entire week before Christmas and the entire week of Christmas.
To avoid the line and the wait, we recommend purchasing your tickets online ahead of time at glensheen.org.
As always, finish your tour by exploring the grounds of Glensheen.
Duluth Winter Village
Even though Duluth Winter Village is happening in December, we want to give you a head start on planning to make sure you are here for Winter Village Weekend!
Experience this FREE community event celebrating local business during the holiday season. Duluth Winter Village is an outdoor market with over 40 local businesses including local food and beverage providers.
Browse local shops and enjoy winter activities like choral singers, fires and complimentary s’mores on the shore of Lake Superior, live petting zoo animals, SNOGA (Snow-yoga), face painting, a custom photo wall, and more! Shop everything from reclaimed wood art to blown glass to clothing for all ages. Local makers and artists will bring their best items to share with you.
This family-friendly outdoor event held on the grounds of Glensheen is a great additional holiday activity to your day at Glensheen.
Sir Ben’s will serve a varied menu of hot food alongside cold Bent Paddle beer and themed cocktails made with Vikre spirits. Va Bene Berarducci’s Caffe will offer a special selection of favorite pasta dishes and salads, served fresh in the warmth of the Winter Garden room with a variety of beverages. There will be delicious baked goods from Zenith Bread Project, treats and espresso from Lake Superior Bakehouse, and pretzels and cinnamon rolls from Duluth’s Best Bread.
There will be piping hot cocoa from Mike and Jen’s Mixes, coffee from Duluth Coffee Co and espresso by Lake Superior Bakehouse. Ice cold beer at our local beer garden, plus themed cocktails (made with Vikre spirits) will be served by Sir Benedict’s Tavern.
Due to the popularity of this event, parking may be difficult at Glensheen for event attendees. Parking may be difficult at Glensheen. Guests planning to tour Glensheen or attending the Duluth Winter Village, we highly suggest using alternate transportation.
Parking is available at UMD in Parking Lot B. Parking is also available at Congdon Park Elementary School. Then take one of the FREE shuttles down to the Duluth Winter Village.
Shuttle service will run on a continuous loop from 9:30 am until 5:30 pm both days. For more parking information, please visit,https://duluthwintervillage.com/event-info/parking-and-directions/
Other Transportation options:
- We encourage guests staying in a hotel to utilize the hotel’s shuttle.
- Transportation apps, Uber & Lyft have drivers available in the Duluth area.
- Duluth Transit Authority’s bus line 22 stops near Glensheen. See it here
While at the Duluth Winter Village, be sure to take advantage of your opportunity to tour the mansion and experience the 25 Christmas Trees!
Needless to say, there is a lot happening at Glensheen this holiday season. Don’t miss out!
Check out all of our tour and hours information here: glensheen.org