FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2004

Mount Vernon, VA - George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens offers visitors a unique opportunity to walk along candlelit paths during Mount Vernon by Candlelight, when the Estate is open from 5 – 8 p.m. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings (November 26, 27, & 28; December 3, 4 & 5; and 10, 11 & 12) are the only time during the year that the Estate is open exclusively for public evening tours. Starting November 1, tickets may be purchased in advance from Mount Vernon’s Main Gate, or through Ticketmaster at 703-573-SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com. Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for children under 12.

Visitors will be treated as holiday guests of the Washington family who, upon presenting their “letter of introduction,” are greeted by Martha Washington in the Mansion’s large dining room. Set in 1797 when the Washingtons return to Mount Vernon after the presidency, the room presents an elaborate holiday dinner including the traditional Christmas Pye, Virginia ham, fruit and desserts. Guests will also meet Tobias Lear, Washington’s personal secretary, as they tour the Mansion. The rarely-seen third floor – where Mrs. Washington lived after her husband’s death – is open for this special occasion. In the kitchen, the final stop on the Mansion’s tour, guests will hear about 18th-century holiday cooking, see Martha Washington’s Great Cake, and be given a complimentary copy of the recipe to try at home.

Following the Mansion tour, guests are invited to stroll candlelit walks, join in caroling around a roaring fire, and enjoy complimentary hot cider and cookies.

The Food Court at Mount Vernon is open during Candlelight Tours for fresh and convenient meals and special holiday treats. The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, with its early-American fare and colonial servers, offers the perfect compliment to the Mount Vernon by Candlelight program. Reservations are suggested for this popular dining experience. Please call 703-780-0011.

The Shops at Mount Vernon are open late during Mount Vernon by Candlelight. Twelve themed departments, including The Christmas Corner, abound with a broad selection of unique gift items including holiday ornaments, estate jewelry, and an exceptional selection of gifts for children.

The Shops, normally open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily, are open until 9 p.m. during Mount Vernon by Candlelight. No admission is required to shop. 

Events, programs, and activities are subject to change.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, open to the public since 1860, communicates the character and leadership of Washington to millions of Americans each year through a variety of interpretive programs on the Estate and in classrooms across the nation. Mount Vernon is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, founded in 1853, making it America’s oldest national preservation organization. Mount Vernon is located at the southern end of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, just 16 miles from Washington, D.C. For more information, please call 703-780-2000 or visit online at www.mountvernon.org.

The Estate opens at 9:00 a.m. September through March and at 8:00 a.m. April through August. Closing hours are 4:00 p.m. November through February and 5:00 p.m. all other times of the year. Regular admission rates are: adults, $11; senior citizens, $10.50; and children age 6-11, when accompanied by an adult, $5. Admission fees, restaurant and retail proceeds, together with private donations, support the operation and restoration of Mount Vernon.