Victorian Christmas Dec. 4, 2026

Experience the charm of a Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm State Historic Site, featuring horse-drawn wagon rides, traditional Christmas decorations, and homemade sorghum Christmas cookies. Join us on Friday and Saturday nights, December 5th and 6th, 12th and 13th, and 19th and 20th, from 4 PM to 7 PM, for a festive journey back to Christmas in 1877.

Visitors will feel as though they have stepped into a Christmas party hosted by the home's first owners, the Nichols family, at "West-End," the original name for Hardman Farm due to its location at the west end of the Nacoochee Valley. Reenactors dressed in period attire portray Captain Nichols, his wife Kate, their daughter Anna Ruby (after whom Anna Ruby Falls, located just north of Helen, is named), mother-in-law Augusta Latimer, and a host of friends celebrating the occasion. Guests can explore the mansion and interact with the reenactors, who will share insights about various Victorian Christmas traditions. Local musicians will fill the mansion with festive music each evening.

The enticing aroma of freshly baked cookies draws visitors from the mansion to the historic kitchen located just off the back of the house. Bakers will prepare batches of homemade sorghum ginger cookies each night, using sorghum that is grown, pressed, and bottled right at Hardman Farm—a true holiday treat!

Santa will be waiting to greet guests in the farm’s carriage house, just a few yards from the kitchen. Visitors can also enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride down the historic Unicoi Turnpike, which was once part of a Native American trading route. Gather around the fire pit for s'mores or visit the visitors' center to shop for holiday gifts crafted by local artists and crafters.

Join us for a Victorian Christmas and create unforgettable holiday memories!