Kingwood Center Gardens in Mansfield, Ohio is a true gem and a gorgeous property to visit any time of the year.
My family enjoys visiting throughout the seasons and during signature events including the Great Pumpkin Glow and the Wine Walk.
I also have fond memories of my children participating in several of the workshops offered at Kingwood. They learned about roses, and carnivorous plants and even made the cutest floral displays.
But my favorite time of year to visit has always been during the holiday season when the public gardens and Kingwood Hall, the historic mansion, are transformed into a Winter Wonderland for the whole family to enjoy.
We visited Christmas at Kingwood during the opening weekend last year and plan to do the same this year too so we can share our experience so you know what to expect during your visit.
Check out our posts on the Best Christmas light displays in Ohio and Christmas Light Displays in Northeast Ohio for more information on Christmas lights for 2023.
Experience the Christmas at Kingwood Annual Event
This year, visitors to Christmas at Kingwood are required to purchase tickets in advance of their visit. Tickets are timed for entry every half hour to ensure overcrowding isn’t a problem.
Visitors to the Christmas event should enter at the Trimble Road gate, park in the main parking area, enter the Garden Gate Visitor Center, and check in at the main desk to access the grounds.
Once inside, you can use the restroom, and you may purchase hot chocolate, coffee, or cookies from the Gateway Cafe, which is run by Buehler’s Fresh Foods. Highly recommended, especially on a cold night!
You’ll exit the Visitor Center through a display that tells the story of Kingwood and honors Charles Kelley King, an innovative industrialist and top-level executive at the Ohio Brass Company. He left the 47-acre estate to the community upon his passing in 1952. If this is your first time visiting the property, it’s worth it to spend a few minutes in this exhibit before exiting the building to the gardens. The exhibit does change slightly from time to time so even if you’ve seen it before, you may want to spend a few minutes viewing the current display.
You’ll find the public garden decked out with a Trail of Lights, featuring dozens of trees created with strings of lights in a variety of colors. A 28-foot tall walk-in string light tree provided the perfect photo opp for families.
The path through the lights is arranged to avoid steps, so it is accessible for wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. There is also a shuttle available that can take you from the Visitor Center to the mansion. While the elevator in the mansion is not operating during the event, there is a virtual tour available upon entering.
Highlights in Kingdom Hall include the massive foyer tree and the Community tree walk in the Ball Room that features Christmas trees that are decorated by different community members and organizations.
Of course, all the rooms in the home are beautifully decorated.
This is a great place to visit early in the season to glean holiday decorating ideas and inspiration.
One of my favorite rooms in the house was the newly opened kitchen and pantry area.
The display does get busier as the month wears on, so if you want to avoid as much of a crowd as possible, plan to visit early in the month and during the week if possible. If that doesn’t work for you, keep in mind that the pre-sell of tickets and timed entry is designed to keep crowds to a minimum so tickets can sell out.
It took my family group about an hour and a half to experience the grounds and Kingwood Hall, and we didn’t rush through.
When you’ve finished exploring the grounds and mansion, you’ll exit the same way you entered, only this time you’ll go through the gift shop. Spend a few minutes looking around, especially if you have some holiday shopping to do. The gift shop is full of unique gift items for everyone on your list.
You may also want to consider giving a Kingwood Center membership as a gift. We’ve been members for years, and not only do you get special perks, discounts on events, free members-only events, etc, but you also get free reciprocal membership at other gardens that participate in the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admission Program. You can learn more about the benefits of Kingwood Center Gardens membership here.
Visiting Information
Address: 50 N. Trimble Road Mansfield, Ohio 44906
Phone: 419-522-0211
Website: Kingwood Center Gardens
Hours: Christmas at Kingwood runs from November 25 through December 30th, 2023. It is open Tuesday-Sunday evenings from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
NOTE: All guests must purchase advance tickets. The cost is $8 for non-members, free for guests 12 and under, and free for members.
