Home for the Holidays at Ford House

Friday, Nov 27 2026
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5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Grounds & Main Residence

  • Age Range: All Ages
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Home for the Holidays at Ford House

On Sale Dates

Friends of Ford House

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 10 a.m.

Public

Friday, October 23, 2026 at 10 a.m.

Home for the Holidays at Ford House

A self-paced one-mile walk across lighted grounds, followed by a quiet visit inside the Main Residence.

Parking and the walk

All parking is in the Visitor Center lot, with ADA accessible spaces at the front nearest the Visitor Center. There is no shuttle service, because the roads are part of the route guests walk, so you'll be on foot for the full visit. Expect about one mile of self-paced walking on pavement, wood chips, gravel, and grass, and some sections are challenging for wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers. Rain, snow, or shine. Dress for outdoor winter conditions.

Home for the Holidays is a three-part evening experience. It begins with a self-paced walk across softly illuminated grounds, continues through both floors of the Main Residence decorated in Eleanor Ford’s understated elegance, and finishes with a stroll past the Mistletoe Market and back through Maple Lane to the Visitor Center.

Plan for about one hour to 90 minutes total. The experience has placed in the Top Four of USA TODAY’s 10Best Holiday Historic Home Tour two years running.

The Experience

PART ONE · 20 TO 30 MIN · HALF A MILE

The Walk In

The walk in covers about half a mile from the Visitor Center to the front door of the Main Residence, with lighted gardens and displays along the way.

  • Begins at the Visitor Center Plaza
  • Jingle Junction at Josephine’s Playhouse, with a giant red sleigh and colorful holiday lights
  • Through the Formal Garden
  • Above the Rose Garden lit in red and white
  • Willow tree in cascading lights and a Christmas train display at the Recreation Building
  • Arrives at the Main Residence at the front door

PART TWO · 20 TO 30 MIN · BOTH FLOORS

Inside the Main Residence

Step inside the Main Residence for a self-paced visit through both floors, where the season is treated more as Eleanor Ford would have kept it than as a holiday display.

  • First and second floors open to guests
  • Decorated in Eleanor Ford’s understated elegance
  • Seasonal accents scaled to the home’s architecture and furnishings
  • Self-paced visit at your own speed
  • Optional Santa photo on the way out

PART THREE · 20 TO 30 MIN · HALF A MILE

The Walk Back

The way back follows Maple Lane to the Visitor Center, with a stop at the Mistletoe Market for warm concessions and themed gifts from The Shop.

  • Stop at the Mistletoe Market for warm drinks and concessions
  • Browse themed gifts from The Shop pop-up
  • Walk down Maple Lane back toward the Visitor Center
  • Pass Josephine’s Playhouse one last time
  • Return to the Visitor Center
The stone Main Residence at night with rooflines outlined in white lights, a tall illuminated evergreen out front, and guests approaching the entrance.

The Main Residence trades its everyday quiet for a softer kind of glow, ready to welcome guests inside.

Families gather under string lights at the Mistletoe Market beside a tall cone-shaped lit tree, with the Visitor Center buildings behind.

The Mistletoe Market draws families under string lights for shopping, hot drinks, and a chance to warm up.

A painted plywood snow lady cutout with a purple top hat and striped scarf holds a red "This Way" sign beside a multicolor lit evergreen.

Even the snow lady knows the way. Just follow her arrow.

The Recreation Building outlined in white lights beneath a willow tree draped with cascading lights, with lanterns scattered across the snowy lawn.

The willow's cascade of lights spills over the Recreation Building, with lanterns tracing the walk below.

A snowy walkway through the Rose Garden lined with red and white lit floral decorations, leading toward a willow tree draped in cascading lights.

The Rose Garden swaps its summer color for red and white lights, with the willow shimmering at the far end.

The Playhouse cottage outlined in green and red lights, beside a tall multicolor tree, a wooden sleigh, and illuminated red, green, and blue gift boxes.

At Jingle Junction, the Playhouse trades its quiet for color, with sleigh and gift boxes lined up for the smallest guests.

The Main Residence's grand staircase with a red carpet runner, lit garland and orange-and-cream bows along the banister, a tapestry above, and a poinsettia at the base.

The grand staircase, dressed in garland and ribbons, draws guests upward through the heart of the house.

The Library with carved wood paneling, green silk drapes, a decorated Christmas tree by the leaded windows, green damask wing chairs, gifts on the floor, and a wreath above the carved stone fireplace.

The Library settles in for the season with a tree by the windows and gifts gathered by the hearth.

The historic kitchen with a stainless steel range and prep counter, decorated holiday sugar cookies on a baking board, a vintage rolling pin, and a fruit basket on the table.

The kitchen looks ready for an afternoon of holiday baking, with cookies already cooling on the counter.

The Modern Room with rosewood paneling and mirrored walls, a gold metal Christmas tree on a piano, and "Christmas Melodies" sheet music by Ada Richter open on the music stand.

In the Modern Room, a gold tree perches on the piano while "Christmas Melodies" waits at the keys.

Visitors walk along a path beneath dozens of warm white light orbs suspended from bare trees, with illuminated tree displays in the distance.

The walk begins under a canopy of glowing orbs, with more lights waiting around every bend.

Event Map

2025 Map: Subject to Change.

Illustrated map of Ford House’s Home for the Holidays lighted walk. The map highlights the one-mile pedestrian route through the estate grounds, with icons marking tickets, concessions, fire pits, restrooms, and merchandise. Key attractions include Jingle Junction at the Playhouse, meeting Santa in the Main Residence, and peeking at the train display in the Recreation Building. The legend explains walking path directions, parking, vehicle exit routes, and event amenities.

Know Before You Go

Arrival & Parking
  • Enter through the Main Gate and park in the Visitor Center lot.
  • Please arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled entry time.
  • When departing, exit through the North Gate.
  • Have your tickets ready for scanning at the check-in area when you arrive.
  • Children must remain with a parent or guardian at all times. Children ages 2 and under are admitted free.
  • Dogs are not permitted on the grounds during Home for the Holidays. Properly trained service animals as defined by the ADA are welcome.
  • A concessions tent is available along the walk offering warm drinks, snacks, and seasonal goodies.
  • No outside food or drink permitted.
  • Home for the Holidays is a rain, snow, or shine event. Dress warmly and be prepared for outdoor winter conditions throughout the evening.
  • The route includes varied and uneven terrain. Some sections may be more challenging for wheelchairs, strollers, or walkers.
  • Shuttle service is not available during the event.
  • For questions about accessibility before booking, contact us at info@fordhouse.org or 313-884-4222.
  • If you need help during the event, please see a Ford House staff member at the concessions tent or ask a security officer.
  • If you lose a personal item, please check at the concessions tent or at the admissions desk inside the Visitor Center.

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Related Events

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Time
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Last entry: 7:30 pm

Date
Friday, Nov 27 2026
Location
Grounds & Main Residence

ADMISSIONS

  • Friend Adult: $18
  • Friend Child (age 3-17): $10
  • Public Adult: $24
  • Public Child (age 3-17): $12
  • Child (age 0-2): Free
  • Friend Adult: $18
  • Friend Child (age 3-12): $10
  • Public Adult: $24
  • Public Child (age 3-12): $12
  • Child (age 0-2): Free

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Never miss a Ford House event

Join our email list for first word on tickets, new events and behind-the-scenes stories from the estate.

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By providing your phone number, you agree to receive promotional and marketing messages, notifications, and customer service communications from Ford House. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Message frequency varies. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.
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Refund Policy

All ticket sales, memberships, and other purchases are non-refundable. Refunds will only be issued if Ford House closes or cancels an event. In such cases, guests with tickets or reservations will be notified.

Read our complete Refund Policy

Accessibility

At Ford House, we are committed to ensuring all guests can enjoy our events. If you have any questions or need additional information about accessibility before booking your tickets, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. You can contact us at info@fordhouse.org or call 313-884-4222, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

More About Our Accessibility Features

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Ford House and The Continental will remain closed on Friday, July 17

out of an abundance of caution due to air quality from Canadian wildfires currently affecting Southeast Michigan.

Guests with tickets or reservations will be contacted directly by our Visitor Experience team. Thank you for your understanding. The health and safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers comes first.

We will resume normal operations tomorrow, Saturday, July 18.

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