Experience Christmas in Milledgeville, Georgia, at one of the city’s most iconic historic sites. Each holiday season, Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion transforms into a festive display inspired by Christmas traditions from the 1850s, filling the historic home with greenery, natural decorations and a towering 30-foot Christmas tree that was named one of the best Christmas trees in America by the New York Post. Christmas at the Mansion is a cherished tradition for locals and an unforgettable highlight for visitors. The Mansion will be decorated and open for holiday tours from November 14th to 24th and November 28th to December 23rd, and December 28th - 31st, with special Candlelight Tours and holiday programming offered on select December dates.

A Historic Christmas Tradition

Completed in 1839, Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion was home to eight Georgia governors during Milledgeville’s years as Georgia’s capital. The Mansion’s holiday decorations reflect the period when Governor Howell Cobb and his family lived there from 1851 to 1853, offering visitors a look at how Christmas may have been celebrated in a prominent 19th-century household. The decorations incorporate materials that would have been available around the home and grounds, including large amounts of live greenery and fresh fruit. At the time, fruit was an important symbol of prosperity because many families could only afford it occasionally. Throughout the Mansion, these details help connect the holiday display to the traditions and daily life of the people who lived there.

A 30-Foot Christmas Tree

One of the most striking features of Christmas at the Mansion is its towering 30-foot Christmas tree, illuminated by approximately 2,000 lights and decorated with 500 ornaments. The ornaments are made from natural materials associated with the home and grounds, continuing a tradition of using readily available materials in the holiday decorations. Local schoolchildren, college students and civic groups contribute handmade ornaments to the tree each year, connecting the historic holiday display with the Milledgeville community today. The result is a centerpiece that combines the Mansion’s history with a tradition that continues each holiday season.

Christmas Traditions in the Children’s Room

The Mansion’s children’s nursery showcases a traditional cobweb party, a Christmas Eve tradition in which ribbons were woven throughout the room. On Christmas morning, children were assigned a color and followed their ribbon through the maze to find their presents. The tradition offers a glimpse into how Christmas celebrations could be structured for children in a 19th-century household. The colorful ribbons winding through the nursery also create one of the Mansion’s most distinctive holiday displays, making the room an engaging stop during a Christmas tour.

The Christmas Experience of the Enslaved

Christmas at the Mansion also explores the very different experiences of the enslaved people who lived and worked there. Enslaved people were given only a half day off for Christmas, when they gathered in the Stewart’s Bedroom and practiced what was historically described as jubilees. The rooms where they gathered were decorated with leftover materials from the home’s public spaces. Including this history in the holiday interpretation provides a more complete understanding of Christmas at the Mansion and the different experiences of the people who lived and worked within the household.

Christmas by Candlelight

For three December evenings, visitors can experience the Mansion after dark during special Christmas Candlelight Tours. The tours will take place December 5, 12 and 19 from 6 to 9 p.m., offering an evening opportunity to experience the historic home surrounded by holiday decorations and candlelight. 

Plan Your Visit

The Mansion is open for public tours Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Christmas tours run through December 31st, 2026, starting at the top of each hour with walk-up tickets available. Candlelight tours will take place at 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. on December 5th, 12th, and 19th, 2026. Candlelight tickets must be purchased in advance. To reserve your spot for these festive tours, call (478) 445-4545. Regular tour rates apply for the regular tours: $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $2 for students/children. Candlelight tours are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, $4 for students/Georgia College staff, and kids under 6 are free. 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so why not make it even better and tour Georgia’s Old Governor's Mansion in all its Christmas cheer!