Glencairn’s Christmas tree in the Great Hall. Beneath it is a Christmas village, Nativity, and train.

Christmas at Glencairn 2026

Christmas has been celebrated at Glencairn since Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn moved into their new home in 1939. Today Glencairn Museum continues this tradition with our annual World Nativities exhibition (since 2009), a Christmas in the Castle tour, a Christmas concert, and other seasonal activities. The Glencairn Museum collection features outstanding examples of Nativity art, including paintings, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, and stained-glass windows, many dating to the medieval period.

Enjoy Christmas at Glencairn through a variety of events and programs, running from Friday, November 27, 2026, through Sunday, January 24, 2027 (closed December 7–8, 24–25, and January 1). Visit Glencairn Museum for the following events and programs.

Presepio with figures made in Naples, Italy, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were collected over a period of more than thirty years by the late Elizabeth Evans and generously donated to Glencairn Museum by her sister Marcia Evans.

World Nativities Exhibition
Friday, November 27, 2026–Sunday, January 24, 2027
Glencairn Museum’s annual World Nativities exhibition presents dozens of three-dimensional Nativity scenes collected from around the world. For many Christians, the Nativity scene is a meaningful expression of religious faith, providing a compelling visual focus during the Christmas season. World Nativities shows how artists adapt the Nativity scene to represent their own spiritual, intellectual, cultural, and regional environments. Settings for many of the Nativities have been created by Bryn Athyn artist Kathleen Glenn Pitcairn. Explore highlights of World Nativities exhibitions from previous years in past issues of Glencairn Museum News.

Christmas in the Castle Tour
Friday, November 27, 2026–Sunday, January 3, 2027
For forty years (1940s to 1970s), the Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn family celebrated Christmas at Glencairn with a concert, a large three-part Nativity scene, a decorated tree that reached beyond the second-floor balcony, and a Christmas day meal. This 60-minute guided holiday tour visits five different floors, including the Tower and Bedroom suite. Your guide will take you on a journey back through time to explore how the Pitcairn family celebrated Christmas in their 20th-century castle. At the conclusion of the tour, visitors can enjoy self-guided access to the World Nativities exhibition.

One of the original Pitcairn family Christmas decorations, this Santa and sleigh, with a magnificent reindeer, was made in Germany, probably in the 1920s. The reindeer is a candy container.

World Nativities Exhibition Opening Event
Saturday, November 28, 2026
Celebrate the opening of Christmas at Glencairn and the World Nativities exhibition with a festive morning at the castle. This exclusive event for Glencairn Museum members offers a first look at dozens of intricately crafted, three-dimensional Nativity scenes from around the world, displayed throughout the beautifully decorated first floor of the Museum.

Online Advent Calendar
Monday, December 1, 2026
Every day, from December 1 through December 25, a new Nativity artwork will appear on the home page of our online Advent calendar.

Glencairn Christmas Sing Concert
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
For more than 80 years, the Glencairn Christmas Sing Concert has brought families and friends together to celebrate the season through music, reflection, and community.

Christmas Homeschool Mornings
Friday, December 11, 2026
Tuesday, December 15, 2026
Thursday, December 17, 2026
Glencairn Museum welcomes homeschool families to its annual Christmas Homeschool Mornings. The morning includes a Christmas in the Castle tour, along with self-guided activities on the first floor.

Custom Carved and Pressed Ceramic Ornaments Workshop
Saturday, December 12, 2026
Create one-of-a-kind ceramic ornaments inspired by the beauty of Glencairn Museum. In this hands-on workshop, you will design, carve, and press your own ornaments.

This holiday season Glencairn Museum has partnered with Christmas Village in Philadelphia, an annual holiday market event at Center City’s LOVE Park and City Hall.

Christmas Village, which runs from November 21 until December 27, is modeled after the traditional Christmas markets in Germany; the market includes decorated tents and wooden market stalls, thousands of twinkling lights, festive Christmas decorations, live music at the main stage, and European food and drinks. Shoppers will find high-quality international and local gifts and decorations. Spread the cheer by following on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok or visit www.philachristmas.com for more information.

Click here for a short video of Christmas at Glencairn.