From Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.:
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. invites the public to celebrate the holiday season and participate in the Annual Essex County Historic Holiday House Tour. After a year hiatus because of the pandemic, this year’s tour includes 10 Essex County historic sites, which will be decorated for the holidays and open to the public for a weekend tour. The tour includes Essex County Kip’s Castle and the Walther House at the Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. The self-guided house tour will be held Saturday, December 4th and Sunday, December 5th at the following locations:
Essex County Kip’s Castle Park
22 Crestmont Road, Verona
973-433-7469; www.EssexCountyParks.org
Admission is free. Open Saturday and Sunday from 12-4 p.m.
Walther House at the Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
474 Upper Mountain Avenue, Upper Montclair
973-783-5974; www.presbyirisgardens.org
Admission is free. Open Saturday from 12-3 p.m.
Ballantine House at Newark Museum
973-596-6648; www.newarkmuseum.org
Admission is $15 adults; $8 for children, seniors and students with valid I.D.; free for museum members, Newark residents, Newark college students with valid IDs and children 2 years and younger. Open Saturday and Sunday from 12-5 p.m. (The exhibit is open through January 5, 2022.)
Canfield-Morgan House and Museum
903 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
973-239-5414; www.cedargrovehistoricalsociety.org
Admission is free, donations are accepted. Open Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
Crane Homestead
289 Westville Avenue, West Caldwell
973-226-8976
Admission is free. Open Saturday and Sunday from 12-4 p.m.
Grover Cleveland Birthplace
207 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
973-226-0001; www.clevelandbirthplace.org
There is a limit of six visitors every 20 to 30 minutes. Admission is free, donations accepted. Open Saturday and Sunday from 12-3 p.m.
Kingsland Manor
973-661-3410; www.kingslandmanor.org
Admission is free. Donations are gratefully appreciated. Open Saturday and Sunday from 1- 4 p.m.
Montclair Historical Society Properties: Crane House and Historic YWCA
973-744-1796; www.montclairhistorical.org
Admission is free. Open Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
Van Tassel Funeral Home
337 Belleville Avenue, Bloomfield
973-743-1234
Admission is free. Open Saturday from 1-5 p.m.
“The Holiday House Tour is a great example of organizations throughout the County pooling their resources to create a wonderful event for families to enjoy and to provide insight into how past holidays were celebrated,” DiVincenzo said. “Take a break from the hustle and bustle this December and visit local homes and landmarks that will have decked the halls in holiday extravagance for one spectacular weekend. Tour historic Essex County with your friends and delight in the spirit of the season,” DiVincenzo said.
The public can visit each site at their own pace. The houses will be exquisitely decorated for the holidays and be open for public viewing. Each site will offer something unique, including musical entertainment, refreshments or educational programs. There may be an admission fee at some locations. For more information, please call 973-268-3500 or visit www.essexcountynj.org.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, five off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.
