Annual Events & Activities

Independence Day

The McHenry Mansion will be decked out in red, white, and blue bunting to celebrate the 4th of July.

The Mansion will be open for self-guided viewing before the parade from 8:30 am until the parade reaches the Mansion and after the parade until 12:30 pm.

The McHenry Mansion Foundation will staff a food booth on the 15th Street side of the Mansion. Hot dogs, sodas, water, donuts, coffee, and ice cream will be available. Proceeds from sales go toward the maintenance and upkeep of the Mansion.

Morbid Obsession

Morbid Obsession is Back! For a different Halloween Experience, take a self-guided, one-of-a-kind tour through the McHenry Mansion where you will experience the Victorian Way of Death including Strange Funeral Customs. Most funerals took place in the family residence. The McHenry’s were no exception. Express your condolences to Mrs. McHenry standing by the open casket of dearly departed Robert McHenry. Learn about the “fashionable disease”—Consumption. For some, consumption or tuberculosis as we call it today, ended in a swift death. For others, it became a lingering illness, and for others, there were no symptoms. (Sound familiar?)

Christmas Tea

Get in the Holiday spirit at our McHenry Mansion Christmas Tea. The Tea is held on the first Tuesday in December. There will be two seatings, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Make your reservations early as seating is limited. Call our Gift Store/Visitor Center for specific dates and times and reservation information.

Candlelight Tours

Tour the McHenry Mansion by candlelight, decorated in all its Christmas finery. The tours are held on the second weekend of December. The tours begin at 5:00 pm and the last entrance is at 7:30 pm. Learn the history of all your favorite holiday traditions, including Christmas trees, candles, candy canes, gingerbread houses, poinsettias, stockings, and many more. Look for our flyer at the top of the page or call our Gift Store/Visitor Center for specific dates, times, and cost. Follow us on Facebook.

St. Patrick's Day Event

The St. Patrick's Day Party is always a fun event. A cocktail/social hour precedes a traditional St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Enjoy live Irish folk music, fun games, and other activities. The party will be held in the Mansion Garden area, weather permitting, or in the Mansion Basement. Call the McHenry Mansion Gift Store/Visitor Center for date and time information and watch for our event flyer here and on our Facebook page.

Fall Table Setting

Our annual fundraising event is a Fall Table Setting. Docents, Foundation members and interested creative individuals display their talents creating elaborate, themed table settings. Held the first week in October, the event features a viewing day on Thursday and a sit-down luncheon at those elaborate tables on Friday. There will also be a raffle for some very elegant gifts created by Foundation members, a silent auction for items donated by local merchants and, of course, a delicious catered lunch. Tickets go on sale in September at the Gift Store and will also be available from Foundation Board members. Check this site later in the year or contact our Gift Store for more information.