What a treat!  I had heard many positive comments about this event prior to attending last night’s kickoff event.  I was not disappointed!  We had the privilege of a sneak peek prior to it’s opening on November 25th. TheMeadowBrookMansion is decked out to the hilt in holiday decorations.  Beautiful Christmas trees can be found around every corner, even an upside down tree! Fireplaces with festive mantels and period lighting throughout the home add to this very enjoyable event. This place is absolutely gorgeous.  The Holiday Walk Home Tour is a great way to kick off the season. This year’s theme of “The Games People Played” will amuse the kids…..what, toys with no batteries??  Read on for the details.

First a little background on the estate. Meadow Brook is the historic home built by one of the automotive aristocracy’s most remarkable women, Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of automobile pioneer John Dodge, and her second husband, lumber broker Alfred Wilson. Constructed between 1926 and 1929, for $4 million, Meadow Brook represents one of the finest examples of Tudor-revival architecture inAmerica.

 

For the 40th anniversary of the Detroit area’s classic Holiday Walk, the estate will have the theme of “The Games People Played”.  They will be showcasing games of days gone by like Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, card games and various board games from the Meadow Brook collection.  The Games People Played is open to the public from Friday November 25th through Thursday December 22nd.  Tour hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (last admittance is 4:00 p.m.).

 

 

Visitors can stroll down a decorated path to the Knole Cottage where evening tours will be available. On the weekend children of all ages can decorate holiday cookie to take home or enter a coloring contest.

 

 

In addition to the Holiday Walk there are several other events going on including a chamber music concert, breakfast with Santa, Supper with Santa and a holiday tea and many more.  Note that some events require a reservation.

 

 

For more information on this wonderful event please visit www.meadowbrookhall.org or call 248-364-6200

 

 

Detroit Mommies Expert Contributor