Holiday Season events at the Deering Estate 

Miami-Dade residents and visitors are invited to celebrate the Holidays at the Deering Estate and create memorable traditions with family & friends. Holiday events and programs include: Historic Holiday Décor: Holidays in Wonderland, A Lewis Carroll Story, Historic Holiday Evening Strolls, Mistletoe & Martinis, Story-Time & Photos with Santa, Holiday Bay Cruise and Winter Camp.

Throughout December, Deering Estate will also host a series of sound and multimedia installations as part of the International Media Art Festival CYFEST 15: Vulnerability at Deering Estate. The program runs from December 1st through January 3rd, with a free public presentation and performance on Sunday, December 10th. This program is supported in part by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. 

Holiday programs and events at Deering Estate: 

Historic Holiday Décor: Holidays in Wonderland, A Lewis Carroll Story 
Daily, Nov. 24, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that the Deering Estate is closed on Dec. 25.
Free with Estate admission: $15 for adults and $7 for children (ages 4-14). 

Experience a daytime visit to Deering Estate this holiday season! The Deering Estate’s holiday décor features over a dozen holiday trees, from the grand tree in the Great Hall, to multiple smaller trees throughout the historic houses that are lavishly decorated to accentuate the architectural details and fine furnishings of the historic house museum.

This year, the Deering Estate celebrates the holiday season through the looking glass with décor inspired by the fantastical world of Lewis Carroll. Led by Deering Estate Designer-in-Residence, Alfredo Brito, each room of the Stone House and Richmond Cottage will feature whimsical holiday decorations by premiere local interior designers and volunteers that will bring to life the colorful characters and topsy-turvy world of Wonderland.

Carroll’s beloved characters, including Alice, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts, will be featured in several historic rooms, galleries, and hand-decorated holiday trees. Highlights of this year’s décor include an imagined recreation of Carroll’s literary studio, a table set for Mad Tea Party, and many other surprises!

Historic Holidays Evening Strolls
December 1 & December 13, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Early Bird Tickets: $13 for adults (ages 15+) and $6 for children (ages 4-14) through 11:59 PM one-day prior to the event. On the day of the event, the cost will be $15 for adults (ages 15+) and $7 for children (ages 4-14), per event. Children under 4 years old do not require a ticket, and tickets are free with RSVP for Deering Estate Foundation Members. 
Tickets are limited. All members and non-members must purchase or reserve their tickets online in advance. Tickets and Foundation Member Tickets are available online. 

Enjoy a family friendly holiday evening as you stroll the main grounds and experience the Historic Holiday Décor: Holidays in Wonderland. Guests can also enjoy the warmth of a campfire and showings of holiday films! Children can bring their letters to Santa to drop off. A special guest will be on-site to read bedtime stories to the children. 

Mistletoe & Martinis 
Friday, December 8, 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tickets: Non-Members $200 per person & Deering Estate Foundation Members $175 per person. Tables of 10 also available. Limited tickets available. Purchase tickets online.

Join us for the 6th annual Mistletoe & Martinis, a FANTASTICAL Soiree in a Holiday Wonderland on Friday, December 8th from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. The Deering Estate comes alive with the sights, sounds and libations of the holiday season with a fanciful nod to Alice in Wonderland.

Enjoy an evening of strolling the estate, enjoying lavish hors d’oeuvres, delicious martinis, exquisite sweets, and a variety of live music and entertainment. Adventure with us in WONDERLAND as the historic houses on the estate are transformed with whimsical characters and fantastical marvels. Whimsical themed dress is encouraged! 

Holiday Bay Cruise
Sunday, December 10, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
$50 per person (ages 4 & older). Purchase tickets online for the morning or afternoon cruise.

Take a break from holiday shopping and enjoy a relaxing cruise on Biscayne Bay that departs from Deering Estate. Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne as you disembark and explore the grounds. Limited space available. The vessel complies with Coast Guard Regulations and is ADA accessible.

Story-Time and Photos with Santa
Saturday, December 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Included with general admission: $15 for adults and $7 for children (ages 4-14).
Free General Admission for Deering Estate Foundation members and children under 4 years old.

Santa Claus is coming to town and he’s visiting the Deering Estate! Enjoy story-time with Santa’s elves, holiday arts and crafts activities, and photos with Santa (for an additional fee) inside the Great Hall of the Stone House. 

Winter Camp
Two, four-day sessions: Session I: December 26-29 & Session II: January 2-5, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
$160 per session. Register online. 

Children, ages 6-14, will explore and learn from nature at Deering Estate's Winter Camp! Two, four-day sessions are available.

For more information on the Holiday Season of events at the Deering Estate, please visit the website. 

About the Deering Estate
Deering Estate, located at 16701 SW 72 Ave. in Miami, is a 21st Century house museum, cultural and ecological field station, and a national landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, owned by the State of Florida and managed by Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. Deering Estate is designated as one of seven Miami-Dade County “Heritage Parks” which have a vital role in our community’s history, environment and in providing recreational and cultural experiences.

About the Deering Estate Foundation
For those who treasure the Deering Estate, who advocate for its preservation and wish to invest in its future, the Deering Estate Foundation provides opportunities for individuals and corporations alike to partake in membership, signature events, and one-of-a-kind experiences, all in service of providing vital funding and support to the Deering Estate. Through these efforts, the foundation fulfills its mission to uphold the legacy of Charles Deering's cherished 1920s-era property, to provide funding for the cultural, educational and recreational experiences it offers, as well as its significant scientific and archaeological endeavors to conserve its diverse flora, fauna and the eight native ecosystems that thrive on its 450 acres, and to ensure its longevity as a prized American heritage site. Established in 1989, The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc. is a community-based charitable 501(c) 3 Florida Corporation and the philanthropic partner of the Deering Estate.