Sneak Peek of Hildene’s 2026 Holiday Raffle!
Purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win an original oil painting by Dorset, Vermont, artist Patti Campbell!
Patti has beautifully captured Hildene in winter, featuring the Lincoln Family Home nestled in a snowy holiday scene.
Raffle tickets are $50 each, and you may purchase as many as you like!
The beautifully framed painting measures 22.5" x 18.75". Patti’s artwork can be found in corporate offices, restaurants, professional buildings, and private collections throughout Vermont, Florida, New Jersey, and other parts of the United States and Europe.
Retail value: $1,900
Raffle ticket sales begin Thursday, December 3, and end Monday, December 14, at 8:00 p.m.
The winner will be notified by phone and email on Tuesday, December 15.
Domestic shipping is available.
A Hildene Musical Holiday Celebration of Nine Lessons and Carols
Saturday, December 19th, 2026
5:00pm & 7:00pm
Celebrate the holiday season with a special evening of music, story, and community at Hildene.
November Bird Walk
Saturday, November 14th
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Please register. Appropriate for teens and adults.
Join local birders to gather long-term data on the presence and abundance of birds and changes in their populations.
Meet at the Welcome Center parking lot. The walk travels over uneven terrain along forest and meadow trails and around the main house. Appropriate for birders of all skill levels. Dress warmly with good walking shoes or boots. A limited number of binoculars will be available. Please register. Email Programming@hildene.org with questions.
Hildene Gratitude Trail Run & Little Striders Gratitude Dash
Friday, November 27th
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Start your Thanksgiving weekend with fresh air, movement, and gratitude!
Join us at Hildene for a festive morning celebrating community, connection, and the spirit of giving. Whether you're an experienced runner, a casual jogger, or simply looking for a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends, there's something for everyone.
The morning begins at 9:00 AM with the Little Striders Gratitude Dash, a fun and friendly opportunity for our youngest participants to get moving and join in the celebration.
At 9:30 AM, the Gratitude Trail Run takes participants through Hildene's scenic landscape, with a route that may wind through wooded trails and open pastures, depending on conditions. It's a refreshing way to experience the natural beauty of the property during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Painting with Wool: A Three-Week Landscape Needle-Felting Workshop
Sundays, November 29, December 6 & 13, 2026
1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Greenhouse at Hildene Farm in the dene
Advance registration required. Adults only. Registration includes all three sessions.
Discover the art of “painting” with wool in this three-week workshop led by local artist Bryan Richheimer.
Working from a shared landscape photograph, participants will learn fundamental needle-felting techniques to create depth, perspective, texture, and focal points through the layering and blending of colorful wool fibers.
With step-by-step instruction, Bryan will demonstrate how to translate a two-dimensional image into a richly textured wool landscape, exploring composition, light, shadow, and the subtle details that bring a scene to life.
Over three sessions, participants will develop their skills and create their own interpretation of the landscape, leaving with a finished piece of fiber art and a foundation for continued exploration of needle felting.
All skill levels are welcome. A basic needle-felting kit, including the tools and supplies needed for the workshop, is included in the registration fee.
Members' Sip & Shop
Friday, December 4th
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join us for a festive evening of holiday shopping at The Museum Store and enjoy 20% off your entire purchase of store merchandise. Find a unique gift for your loved ones and yourself while supporting our nonprofit. Members and their friends are welcome!
Members, if you'd like to come back and shop some more—or if you can’t make it on Friday evening—the 20% off will be available through Sunday, December 6th! Just show your Hildene Member card.
December Bird Walk
Saturday, December 5th
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Please register. Appropriate for teens and adults.
Join local birders to gather long-term data on the presence and abundance of birds and changes in their populations.
Meet at the Welcome Center parking lot. The walk includes uneven terrain along forest and meadow trails and around the main house. Dress warmly with good shoes or boots for walking. Appropriate for birders of all skill levels. A limited number of binoculars will be available. Please register. Email Programming@hildene.org with any questions.
Meet the Author: C.J. King
Saturday, December 12th
1:00pm - 3:00pm
The Museum Store
1005 Hildene Rd., Manchester, VT
Meet CJ King, author of Four Marys and a Jessie: The Story of the Lincoln Women
About The Author:
C.J. King first became interested in the Lincoln women when she learned she is related to them through the Harlan family. After visiting Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, in Manchester, she moved to Vermont and began this research. A resident of Jamaica, Vermont, and a native Hoosier, she holds a B.A. in journalism from Ball State University and an M.F.A. in writing from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. As a professional writer for 35 years, she has published many articles in newspapers and magazines. This is her first book.
First published in 2015, Hildene is proud to publish this second edition.
New this December: Community Holiday Parties
For the first time, Hildene is opening Lincoln Hall for two shared holiday parties built for Manchester's small businesses. An office of six or a shop of ten can host a proper party without all the planning that typically goes into one.
- Saturday, December 12: for businesses that work Monday through Friday
- Monday, December 14: for restaurants, inns and hospitality teams who work weekend
Each evening includes a DJ, a photo booth, a cash bar, and food from Nick at Pangaea. "You just pay for the table and we're done," Theresa says. "You walk in the door and enjoy your time. We clean up. We do everything else."
"There's a ton of small businesses in town, eight or ten people, maybe fewer," Carmine says. "Buy a table, come and have fun, network with others, and it's one and done."
