Childhood was as sweet as we remember! Meadow Brook Hall’s 39th annual Holiday Walk: The Treasures of Childhood will transport you to a time when toy trains still circled beneath the tree and the anticipation of Santa’s arrival kept you awake with excitement. The 2010 Holiday Walk will highlight childhood treasures from Meadow Brook’s heyday. This year’s decorations offer a childlike sense of wonder, featuring period toys, trains and family photographs. The month’s festivities include tours, a pickle hunt, supper with Santa, breakfast with Santa, an elegant holiday tea, a swinging Starlight Stroll and more.
As a special feature this year, hundreds of collectable Teddy Bears await touring guests in Frances and Danny Dodge’s playrooms. Visitors can view the never-before-seen train set recently returned to The Hall by Matilda’s granddaughter Judy. “I had asked and asked for a train for years and finally, when I was 12 years old, Granny gave in. I awoke on Christmas morning to see the train assembled beneath the tree in the Living Room. I was beside myself with joy,” Judy said. “It brings me such comfort to be able to return it to The Hall…knowing my Granny’s legacy will continue.”
Visitors will be entertained with a story of Richard Wilson riding his tricycle through the gallery after receiving it from his parents on Christmas morning. And guests will hear about Frances and Matilda’s tradition of wrapping gifts for a local orphanage late into the night and see an original horse-drawn sleigh and a replica of the toboggan often used by Danny Dodge.
On the weekends, to make your visit a little sweeter, children of all ages can enjoy a vintage candy “bar” offering old-fashioned candies and treats. Families can make a pickle ornament while watching classic Christmas cartoons. Children can also participate in a coloring contest for a chance to win a gift certificate to the Meadow Brook Hall Museum Shop.
MEADOW BROOK HALL’S 2010 Holiday Walk includes several special events:
• Free visit with Santa at Knole Cottage, December 11 and December 12
• Breakfast with Santa, December 12 and 19
• Supper with Santa, December 13
• Holiday Tea, December 14 and 21
• Starlight Stroll, December 16
The cost for the both the Breakfast and the Supper events is $30 for adults and $25 for children. Cost to attend the tea is $50 per person. Tickets to the Starlight Stroll are $75 per person and include an elegant strolling dinner, live musical entertainment, touring and more. Reservations are required for all Holiday Walk special events, excluding the free visit with Santa. To make a reservation call (248) 364-6263 or purchase tickets online at www.meadowbrookhall.org.
THE TREASURES OF CHILDHOOD is open to the public from Friday, November 26 through Wednesday, December 22, 2010. Tour hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admittance at 4 p.m.), and Monday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. (last admittance at 8 p.m.) Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for OU Alumni (ID required), and $5 for children 17 and under (accompanied by an adult); children age 2 and under are free. On Tuesdays and Thursdays seniors age 62 and older will receive $5 off admission. All tours are self-guided and reservations are not required.
Childhood was as sweet as we remember! Meadow Brook Hall’s 39th annual Holiday Walk: The Treasures of Childhood will transport you to a time when toy trains still circled beneath the tree and the anticipation of Santa’s arrival kept you awake with excitement.
Created by Karen Coronado (kacorona@oakland.edu) on Friday, November 12, 2010 Modified by Karen Coronado (kacorona@oakland.edu) on Monday, November 22, 2010 Article Start Date: Friday, November 12, 2010
