A Brandywine Valley Christmas weekend gives you a lot of choices: du Pont mansions dressed for the holidays, a garden with hundreds of thousands of lights, a museum with a model train display and a Wilmington riverfront that glows at dusk. The challenge is fitting them together. The Brandywine Valley is a region covering parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware around Brandywine Creek. This guide shows where to go, eat and stay from Friday to Sunday, using the 2026 dates the venues have published.
Quick overview: all seven of the Brandywine Valley’s main holiday attractions overlap from December 3 through December 30, 2026, which makes that the broadest window for a weekend visit. Longwood, Winterthur, Hagley, the Brandywine Museum and the Wilmington riverfront also run into January 2027, but Nemours closes December 30 and the Holiday Lights Express ends December 31. Stay in downtown Wilmington for a city base, or in the Chadds Ford and Kennett Square countryside for an inn base.
What’s open: Brandywine Valley holiday dates for 2026
| Stop | Where | 2026 season | Hours to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holidays at Brandywine | Chadds Ford, PA | Nov. 14 to Jan. 10, 2027 | 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; until 8 p.m. Fri. to Sun., Dec. 18 to Jan. 3 (except Christmas Day) |
| A Longwood Christmas | Kennett Square, PA | Nov. 20 to Jan. 10, 2027 | 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily; timed tickets |
| Yuletide at Winterthur | Winterthur, DE | Nov. 21 to Jan. 3, 2027 | Tue. to Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Holiday Nights Fri. and Sat. until 8 p.m. (none Dec. 26 or Jan. 1) |
| Noël at Nemours | Wilmington, DE | Nov. 24 to Dec. 30 | Tue. to Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.); Late Nights Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26 until 8 p.m. |
| Holidays at Hagley | Wilmington, DE | Nov. 27 to Jan. 3, 2027 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Wednesdays |
| Holiday Magic at Riverbright | Wilmington riverfront | Nov. 27 to Jan. 3, 2027 | Lights on at dusk |
| Holiday Lights Express | Red Clay Valley, DE | Dec. 3 to 31 | Evening trips on select dates; reservations required |
Holiday exceptions: Brandywine, Hagley and Winterthur are closed on Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, Brandywine closes at 1 p.m., Hagley at 2 p.m. and Winterthur closes early. Brandywine and Winterthur are also closed on Thanksgiving. Dates and hours were checked against the linked venue and tourism pages on November 7, 2026; confirm them before you book.
A Friday to Sunday Brandywine Valley Christmas itinerary
The Wilmington, DE riverfront decorated for the holidays1Friday: arrive, then choose one evening plan
Check in, then pick one of these evening plans rather than trying to do them all:
- Riverfront lights and dinner (default). Head to the Wilmington riverfront at dusk for the Holiday Magic display, which Visit Wilmington lists from November 27 to January 3. Then book dinner downtown, such as Bardea Food & Drink (see our Bardea review).
- Estate after dark. Winterthur runs Holiday Nights on Fridays and Saturdays beginning November 27, open until 8 p.m. with candlelit tours, live music, firepits and cocktails. It strongly recommends advance reservations.
- Train ride. The Holiday Lights Express runs on select dates from December 3 to 31, and the railroad says reservations are required.
- December 4 only. West Chester’s tree lighting is at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Christmas parade at 7 p.m., per MyChesCo.
Our practical tip: reserve the train before you travel, and book Winterthur ahead as the museum strongly recommends. If you use Winterthur on Friday night, choose Nemours or Hagley for Saturday morning instead.
2Saturday: Winterthur, then Longwood after dark
Spend the morning at Winterthur, which is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Then drive to Kennett Square for Longwood Gardens, open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the event. Timed tickets are required.
For dinner, staying in West Chester? Book Limoncello Ristorante before or after your garden visit. For a simpler Longwood evening, reserve 1906, or buy tickets for Taste of Christmas in The Fountain Room (December 17 to 24 and 26 to 31, 2026; $136 for adults, dining only, with garden admission bought separately). Our 1906 at Longwood Gardens review is useful background, though its hours may differ from the Christmas schedule.
Our practical tip: on December 5, 12, 19 or 26, consider making Nemours your Saturday evening stop instead of Longwood, since its Late Nights run until 8 p.m. Then move Longwood to another day.
3Sunday: Brandywine, then lunch and Hagley
Start at the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from December 18 to January 3 (except Christmas Day). The Brandywine Railroad model train display is included in holiday admission.
Then choose lunch and Hagley if time permits. For lunch, we recommend Buckley’s Tavern in Centreville, Delaware, on Kennett Pike (Route 52). Fodor’s describes a casual tavern in a building dating to 1817, with burgers, comfort food and salads. Hagley is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Wednesdays, so plan to arrive with time to spare. Nemours Estate is another Sunday option, since it is open Tuesday through Sunday.
Our practical tip: for a slower Sunday, make Brandywine your only major attraction.
Where to stay for a Brandywine Valley Christmas weekend
You have two good bases. Wilmington puts you near the riverfront lights and the Delaware estates. The Chadds Ford and Kennett Square countryside puts you closer to Longwood and the Brandywine Museum.
- Hotel du Pont, Wilmington. The historic downtown hotel lists the Gatsby Garden Retreat on Hotel du Pont‘s packages page: a two-night stay in a Signature Suite, a choice of two tours at Du Pont legacy estates (Hagley, Nemours, Winterthur or Longwood) and dinner for two at the Green Room Bar with a Gatsby-inspired cocktail flight. Its booking link was preset to January 2 to 4, 2027 when we checked, so confirm availability for your dates. Read our Hotel du Pont review before you book.
- The Inn at Montchanin Village, Montchanin. We recommend this stay for a quieter base. Inn at Montchanin Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a member of Historic Hotels of America and is 10 minutes northwest of Wilmington. It has an on-site spa and Krazy Kat’s, a restaurant in a converted blacksmith’s shop, and is near Winterthur, Hagley and Nemours.
- Country inns near Chadds Ford and Kennett Square. Fodor’s lists the Inn at Grace Winery and the Fairville Inn, a bed-and-breakfast between Longwood Gardens and Winterthur. Our favorite is The Inn at Whitewing Farm.
- West Chester. A walkable town base on the Pennsylvania side. See our West Chester winter getaway.
Where to eat on a Brandywine Valley Christmas weekend
| Meal | Option | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Friday dinner | Le Cavalier, Hotel du Pont | The hotel describes a modern brasserie serving French classics and creative originals |
| Friday dinner (alternative) | Bardea Food & Drink, downtown Wilmington | A downtown Wilmington restaurant; reserve ahead |
| Saturday dinner | Limoncello Ristorante, West Chester | Our pick if you are staying in West Chester |
| Saturday dinner (at Longwood) | 1906 or The Fountain Room | 1906 reservations are open and its menu was not posted when we checked; Fountain Room dinners are ticketed |
| Sunday lunch | Buckley’s Tavern, Centreville, DE | Our pick; a casual tavern in a building dating to 1817, per Fodor’s |
Dining in Wilmington itself? See our downtown Wilmington guide.
Tips for planning your Brandywine Valley Christmas weekend
- Reserve first. Longwood requires timed tickets, the Holiday Lights Express requires reservations and Winterthur strongly recommends them.
- Plan around closed days. Hagley is closed Wednesdays, Winterthur and Nemours are open Tuesday through Sunday, and Nemours is closed until November 24.
- Pick three or four stops, not all seven. Distances between the Delaware and Pennsylvania sites add up, so treat the table as a menu. Our practical tip: anchor each day with one big stop and one evening stop.
Brandywine Valley Christmas weekend: your questions, answered
When is the best time for a Brandywine Valley Christmas weekend?
All seven stops overlap from December 3 through December 30, 2026. The weekends of December 4 to 6, 11 to 13 and 18 to 20 add a Nemours Late Night on Saturday and Winterthur Holiday Nights on Friday and Saturday. December 26 also has a Nemours Late Night but no extended Winterthur hours. On January 2 and 3, Winterthur, Longwood, Hagley, Brandywine and the riverfront are still on, but Nemours and the train are not.
How many days do you need?
A Friday to Sunday weekend covers three or four major stops. Allow more time if you want all seven.
Which Brandywine Valley attractions are closed on Mondays and Wednesdays?
Winterthur and Nemours list Tuesday through Sunday hours, so both are closed Mondays. Hagley is closed Wednesdays. The Brandywine Museum lists daily holiday hours, and Longwood lists daily hours for its Christmas event.
Where should I stay?
Choose Wilmington or the Inn at Montchanin Village for the riverfront and Delaware estates, or the Chadds Ford and Kennett Square area for Longwood and the Brandywine Museum.
Is Longwood Gardens open on Christmas Day?
A Longwood Christmas lists daily hours of 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. from November 20, 2026 through January 10, 2027, which includes Christmas Day. Longwood requires timed admission tickets, so check its ticket calendar for availability.
Is a Brandywine Valley Christmas weekend good for kids?
Hagley’s holiday page says children 14 and under are admitted free, and the Brandywine Museum’s model train display is included in holiday admission. The Holiday Lights Express train ride is another family option.
Do I need reservations?
Longwood requires timed tickets and the Holiday Lights Express requires reservations. Winterthur strongly recommends advance reservations. Book dinner ahead as well.
The bottom line
Choose a base, anchor each day with one major stop and book timed tickets and dinner early. That is the simplest way to see the Brandywine Valley’s holiday best in one weekend.
Related reading: Christmas lights near Wilmington, Delaware, best Christmas towns in the Mid-Atlantic, central Delaware weekend getaway, weekend getaways from Philadelphia and our checklist for leaving the house for holiday travel.
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