ODESSA, Del. — Nov. 11, 2025 — This holiday season, the Historic Odessa Foundation invites visitors to step into the world of beloved author Jane Austen (December 16, 1775–July 18, 1817) as it launches its 37th annual Holiday Tours and Exhibits, featuring A Jane Austen Christmas at 250, a festive exhibition honoring the 250th anniversary of the writer’s birth. The seasonal celebration runs from Nov. 11 through Dec. 31, with tours, candlelight evenings, and special holiday events throughout Odessa’s beautifully preserved historic district.
At the heart of the festivities, the Wilson-Warner House (c.1769) will transform into a Georgian-era holiday scene inspired by the customs and traditions of Austen’s time. Visitors will find elegantly staged vignettes evoking the spirit of Austen’s novels — Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. Each room will reflect the warmth and conviviality of early 19th-century celebrations, complete with parlor games, candlelit balls, evergreen garlands, and the feasts and festivities that stretched from the Winter Solstice through Twelfth Night.
Although Austen herself made only brief mentions of Christmas in her works, her characters’ wit, manners, and enduring charm provide the perfect backdrop for exploring English holiday traditions from her era.
A Holiday Tradition of Living Literature
The Historic Odessa Foundation has long celebrated the power of storytelling through interpretive exhibitions that bring classic literature to life. Each year, the Foundation’s museum houses are transformed into immersive experiences rooted in literary themes, continuing a Delaware holiday tradition that merges education, art, and history. This year’s Austen tribute marks a milestone in that legacy, as the Foundation celebrates both the novelist’s 250th birthday and nearly four decades of literary-inspired holiday displays.
Jane Austen’s Birthday Celebration – Dec. 16
Visitors are invited to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday during a special evening event on Tuesday, December 16, at 6 p.m. The celebration includes a festive birthday party in Austen’s honor and an exclusive guided tour of the exhibition A Jane Austen Christmas at 250.
Twinklefest and Seasonal Highlights
The holiday season officially sparkles to life with Twinklefest, launching Saturday, Nov. 22, from 1 to 5:30 p.m. The inaugural celebration will transform the Corbit-Sharp House (c.1774) and surrounding grounds into a winter wonderland, culminating in the Twinklefest Lighting Countdown, when Odessa’s historic buildings and town center glow with thousands of white lights.
Guests can enjoy:
- A Jane Austen Christmas tours
- Santa’s Workshop and Sleigh Photo Ops
- Holiday Marketplace, featuring local artisans and vendors
- Over 30 themed Storybook Trees, decorated by local families and schools
- Live performances by the Dover English Country Dancers
- Hands-on children’s activities, hayrides, Ugly Sweater Contest, and more
- Cantwell’s Twinklefest Cantina, featuring fire pits, hot drinks, and live music
Beyond Twinklefest, seasonal programming continues through December with Candlelight Walking Tours, Storybook Trees, Holiday Hearth Cooking demonstrations, and more.
Tickets and Information
Tickets for Twinklefest on Nov. 22 are now available at Ticket Leap. Proceeds support the Foundation’s preservation and educational programs, which serve more than 5,000 Delaware students annually.
- Non-member family package (2 adults + 2 children*): $45
- Member family package: $35
- General adult admission: $15
- *Children under 12: $10
NOTE: All children’s tickets include crafts, materials, and takeaways
Odessa’s historic buildings and town center will glow with thousands of sparkling white lights beginning Nov. 22, during Twinklefest.
For more information about Historic Odessa’s 37th annual Holiday Season, tours and events, visit www.historicodessa.org.
Historic Odessa, is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM), and is open to the public March through December, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday by reservation. General Admission: Adults, $10; Groups, Seniors, Students, $8; and Children under six are free. Member discounts are available.
About the Historic Odessa Foundation
Established in 2005, the Historic Odessa Foundation owns and operates Historic Odessa, a 72-acre enclave of 18th and 19th century structures located in the town of Odessa, just two miles from DE 1 and just off U.S. Route 13 in southern New Castle County, Delaware. The historic buildings and gardens along with a well-documented collection of more than 7000 objects and furnishings offer a unique picture of Delaware’s colonial period in a rural village that played a vital part in America’s commercial history. The town of Odessa, originally known as Cantwell’s Bridge, has retained much of its 18th century charm and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and home to a National Historic Landmark, and two National Park Service Network to Freedom sites. www.historicodessa.org
201 Main Street, DE. 19730 / 302-378-4119
