Castle Will Have Nutcracker Theme This Holiday Season

For the second year in a row, Gillette Castle in East Haddam has been transformed for the holiday season with Nutcracker ballot decorations.

The 24-room castle was home to William Gillette, the famous actor who played Sherlock Holmes, and is located at the 184-acre Gillette Castle State Park along the Connecticut River. 

Each room, normally open to the public during the summer season, is decorated including the living room, kitchen with pantry, bedrooms, bathrooms, a third floor suite, a library, and a study.

In addition to nutcrackers, the castle’s holiday decorations include an oversized Christmas tree in the living room with gifts underneath as well as small trees in each room, a decorated fireplace, poinsettias and wreaths throughout, and a working toy train as part of a small winter village.

Decorating the castle for the holidays is a rich tradition, officials say, which started in the 1960’s or 1970’s with a broad Victorian style. The medieval castle and adjacent grounds were originally acquired by Connecticut in 1943 even though its leaky roof forced it to be closed to the public from 2000 to 2003.

I have toured the castle during the holiday season after it reopened and it was always an enjoyable experience. It is worth the trip from anywhere in Connecticut.

If you have only visited the castle in the summer or never been, it is definitely something you should check out. Visiting the castle during the winter is certainly a unique experience which has been highlighted in the New York Times, Hartford Courant, The Reminder, and the Uptake web site.

During the tour, staff members can answer questions regarding the historic castle, William Gillette, or holiday decorations of that time period.

Members of the Friends of Gillette Castle help decorate the castle which receives about 200,000 visitors each year. 

In addition to the castle, the group assists in running an adjacent visitor center which features exhibits about Gillette including a recently restored railroad locomotive added to the collection in 2007.

The group also helps run a small gift shop and a food concessions building.

To help folks get into the holiday spirit, there will be live entertainment in the castle’s main hall each weekend in December.

On Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. the Violin Students will perform preceding the Valley Shore Chorus at 2:30 p.m.

Serendipity will entertain guests on Dec. 4 at 12 p.m. followed by the George Manstand Big Band at 1 p.m.

On Dec. 10, Modern Riffs will share their talents at 1 p.m.

The Old Saybrook High School Select Vocal Ensemble will sing on Dec. 17 at 1 p.m.

The Stafford High School Madrigal Singers wrap up the holiday season when they perform on Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.

Additionally, the park will have hot cocoa and warm cider available.  

The castle will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Dec. 18. There is a $6 charge for adults and kids 13 and older, $2 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 and under.

Gillette Castle State Park is located at 67 River Road in East Haddam.

For more information, call 860-526-2336.