Allandale Mansion Christmas Tours

The holiday season will soon be upon us. Lights will be strung; stockings hung, and Christmas trees will shine in homes all across the Model City. A great way to embrace the Christmas spirit is to participate in one of Allandale Mansion’s long-standing traditions.

The Allandale Mansion Christmas Tours will take place on December 7 (from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and on December 8 (from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.). Tickets will be available online, at the door and are priced as follows:

Ages 12 and up: $5 (cash only)
Children under 12: Free
Every year volunteers spend the better part of a week decorating the mansion – both inside and out – for Christmas. Typically, every room of the mansion features a Christmas tree and is decorated with a theme.

The Christmas tours are self-guided and normally take around 30 minutes to an hour. The mansion will have volunteers on hand throughout the house to answer any questions about Allandale and its history.

“We’re opening our doors once again, like we do every year, and inviting the public inside to enjoy our elegant and stunning decorations,” said Allandale Mansion Curator Rod Gemayel. “If you’re looking for a family-friendly activity to help get you in the Christmas spirit, then please visit the mansion next month.”

Cookies and hot cider will be offered on both days. Harpist Martha Painter will be performing on December 7 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. while Santa Claus himself will pay the mansion a visit on December 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

For the first time, tickets are available for advance purchase online. To purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/40dPefe. You can also click on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “christmas tour” in the search bar.

Allandale Mansion was built in 1953 and donated to the City of Kingsport in 1969 after the death of its owner, Harvey Brooks. The property includes the mansion, two barns, a picnic pavilion, two man-made ponds, the Heron Dome and a 2,000-square-foot amphitheater.

Please note, Allandale Mansion can be rented during the holidays for events and photo sessions. For more information call 229-9422.

About the City of Kingsport

Founded in 1917, the City of Kingsport (pop. 55,400) is located on the Tennessee-Virginia border at the crossroads of I-81 and I-26 near the geographic center of the eastern United States. The city is widely known as a planned community, designed by renowned city planner John Nolen and wrapping around the foot of Bays Mountain – a 3,750-acre park, nature preserve, planetarium and observatory. Kingsport is recognized as an International Safe Community by the National Safety Council, a Healthier Tennessee community, and won the 2009 Harvard Innovations in American Government Award for its higher education initiatives. While many city names are duplicated throughout the U.S., there’s only one Kingsport – a fact that invokes community pride, known locally as the “Kingsport Spirit.” For more information, please visit www.kingsporttn.gov.