NEWSLETTER
Also featuring handcrafted wreaths, tabletop trees, and mantel displays
Rochester, N.Y., (November 6, 2026) — Visitors are invited to celebrate the season at the George Eastman Museum as its beloved annual holiday displays return Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027. The merry showcase features over fifty cleverly designed and beautifully decorated gingerbread creations, along with dozens of handcrafted wreaths, festive tabletop trees, and diverse mantel displays.
All gingerbread creations, wreaths, and tabletop trees will be available through an online auction. Guests can view the displays in person or virtually, and place bids from any mobile device or computer at eastman.org/holidays beginning Saturday, Nov. 7. Proceeds benefit the George Eastman Museum.
Additional holiday offerings at the museum include a Holiday Cocktail Party and Musicale fundraiser hosted by the Eastman Museum Council, Community Mantels Tour, and a holiday film series at the Dryden Theatre.
Holiday Events
- Gingerbread creations and auction: Over fifty cleverly decorated gingerbread creations fill the mansion.
- Wreaths and auction: Wreaths by local florists and garden clubs adorn the walls.
- Tabletop trees and auction: Festive tabletop trees, decorated by local groups and businesses, are on display throughout the historic mansion.
- Mantel displays: The mansion’s fireplace mantels are decorated by local organizations to echo the celebrations of our diverse community.
- Scavenger hunt: Visitors of all ages can test their skills through a scavenger hunt.
Community Mantel Tour
In partnership with Latino Youth Development and Resource Center, South Asian Society of Brighton High School, The Jewish Federation, and more, the museum mansion’s fireplace mantels have been decorated to showcase the holidays and customs of our diverse community in Rochester. Tour the mantels and learn about various winter holidays and traditions from each of the partners on Saturday, Nov. 14. Capacity is limited, advance registration is required.
Holiday Cocktail Party and Musicale
The Eastman Museum Council presents a festive evening of music on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Savor cocktails and graze sumptuous hors d’oeuvres provided by Farmhouse Table Food. Bid on bountiful themed baskets and coveted auction items, and mix and mingle with friends of the George Eastman Museum, old and new. Reserve a ticket by Friday, Nov. 13.
Holiday Films at the Dryden Theatre
The Dryden Theatre kicks off its annual holiday film series Thanksgiving weekend with Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) on Friday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Other highlights include You’ve Got Mail (1998) on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m., The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) on Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 19 at 2 p.m.; and When Harry Met Sally… (1989) on New Year’s Eve at 7:30 p.m. Visit eastman.org/dryden-theatre for full film listings.
Hours and Admission
Museum hours during Holidays at the George Eastman Museum are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The museum is closed Mondays. The museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and News Year’s Day. For ticket information, visit eastman.org.
About the George Eastman Museum
Founded in 1947, the George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest photography museum and one of the largest film archives in the United States, located on the historic Rochester estate of entrepreneur and philanthropist George Eastman, the pioneer of popular photography. Its holdings comprise more than 400,000 photographs, 31,000 motion picture films, the world’s preeminent collection of photographic and cinematographic technology, one of the leading libraries of books related to photography and cinema, and extensive holdings of documents and other objects related to George Eastman. As a research and teaching institution, the Eastman Museum has an active publishing program, and its L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation’s graduate program (a collaboration with the University of Rochester) makes critical contributions to film preservation. The George Eastman Museum is supported with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. For more information, visit eastman.org.
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ATTN. Media: High-resolution images for Sweet Creations and holiday events at the museum, can be found here. Please provide photo credit to: George Eastman Museum/August Esbjorn-Witt.