A Leffingwell Christmas in the Colonies
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Step back into the holidays of early America with A Leffingwell Christmas in the Colonies, a festive experience rooted in authentic 18th-century tradition. This event brings history to life with seasonal decor, hands-on activities, and stories that capture the spirit of a colonial Christmas.
History of the House
The Leffingwell House in Norwich, Connecticut is a great example of colonial architecture. The original structure of the house was a two room home built by Stephen Backus in 1765. In 1700, it was passed to Lt. Thomas Leffingwell. In 1701, it evolved into a pre-Revolutionary tavern, the Leffingwell Inn. By 1776, it became the townhouse of Norwich patriot Christopher Leffingwell.
About The Event
The Leffingwell Christmas in the Colonies Open House is a free event at the Leffingwell House Museum. During the event, you’ll learn how Christmas was celebrated during the early days of the colonies. You’ll also get a chance enjoy regional flavors of the season from New England and the Southern colonies. This year, the event is Sunday, December 7th, 2025 from 11am to 3pm.
Getting There
To get here, you’ll take Route 2. When the highway portion of Route 2 ends in Norwich, you’ll take a left turn at the light. The museum is actually right next to the end of the highway.
At the museum, there’s no real parking lot. You’ll park in the grass and really wherever you can find a spot. When I went to the holiday open house, parking was a little bit of a challenge. It is a popular event, and there’s really only so many places for people to park. We ended up having to drive down behind the museum and we just barely fit into the last spot.
My Experience At The Event
Last year was my first time going to this event. I’d toured the house previously, but I’d never gone for the holiday event. Since this is an open house, there’s no structured guided tour. Instead, you’ll be able to roam the house at your own pace. There are docents around the house though to answer any questions you might have.
In addition to the house being decorated for the holidays, there was a lot going on. “George Washington” was in the Washington Room talking about the holidays during colonial times. The Pewter Pot had a colonial hot chocolate you could try in the basement. It is definitely a great experience!
Below are some photos from my visit from the holidays.
Is This Event Worth Going To?
If you’re interested in colonial history, I’d say it’s absolutely worth going to. This event is more than just an old house decorated for the holidays. It’s truly an experience that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
What a cool way to usher in the holiday spirit
SO festive and fun! I always forget about the Norwich area..so many historical structures and home to explore.
I feel like Norwich is soooo underrated. It really has so much history! There are a ton of historic districts to check out as well. I really like the Little Plain Historic District by the The Cathedral of St. Patrick (which in itself is gorgeous).
This is such a great blog post! I always loved New England in Autumn, but Christmas is really such a festive time as well!
There’s so much to see and do during the holidays in New England!!
This looks like such a fun stop! Everyone always thinks about New England for autumn but okayyy Christmas time is starting to look cute too. I also like that you can go through at your own pace, I get nervous and shy in groups and never end up asking the questions I have anyway haha
I definitely always feel awkward in groups LOL
This looks fantastic. I have to get this on my list!!
It’s definitely worth checking out!