Van Cortlandt Park

A candlelit winter evening with crafted cocktails, period music, 19th-century dance, historic games, wassail, and winter traditions.

Experience Van Cortlandt House Museum after dark for Van Cortlandt by Candlelight – Cocktails and Music: A Festive Winter’s Eve, an immersive, age 21+, seasonal program featuring crafted cocktails, live period music, historic games, dancing, and winter traditions presented throughout the house.

What Awaits You at Cocktails and Music: A Festive Winter’s Eve:

• Leadlights Ensemble performing evocative 17th–19th century music
• Dancing demonstration by Red Monkey Theater Group, an illuminating window into early social dance
• Crafted seasonal cocktails inspired by historic winter beverages
• Winter holiday interpretation with thoughtful labels exploring winter traditions across time and culture
• Historic board game stations featuring favorites like Nine Men’s Morris set up throughout the house
• Pop-up tavern featuring Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site’s interactive historic games and freshly popped popcorn downstairs
• The museum beautifully dressed for winter, with candlelit rooms, decorated parlors, and seasonal touches in every corner

Interpretive holiday labels placed throughout the museum highlight winter traditions past and present, offering insight into how different members of the household who lived and labored here experienced the season.

With music in the halls, candle glow, winter decorations throughout, and hands-on activities, this festive evening offers a rare opportunity to explore Van Cortlandt House Museum after dark.

Admission: $35/ person. Includes 2 crafted cocktails and 1 warm (nonalcoholic) wassail per guest.

All proceeds support Van Cortlandt House Museum's educational and public programs.

Age restriction: This event is for guests ages 21 and up only. No one under age 21 will be permitted to enter. IDs will be verified at two checkpoints - please ensure that you have your ID with you to enter and enjoy!

For our family-friendly Van Cortlandt by Candlelight on Sunday, December 14th, click here! Guests of all ages are welcome on Sunday.

Accessibility:

This event consists of self-guided tours of the museum. The museum is accessed using stairs, and the house has three sets of stairs leading to each floor. A 360-degree tour of the museum is available in the museum's Welcome Center.

Language:

Printed event materials and museum signage will be in both English and Spanish.

Getting here:

Public Transportation:

• Subway: #1 to 242nd Street Station, then walk north on Broadway to the tree-lined pedestrian path leading into the park.
• Bus: Bx9 to West 246th Street and Broadway, then walk into the park on the tree-lined pedestrian path leading into the park.
• BxM3 Express Bus to 246th Street and Broadway, then walk into the park on the tree-lined pedestrian path leading into the park.
• Metro-North Hudson River Line to Marble Hill Station, transfer to the Bx9 bus or #1 subway as above.
   

By Car:

VCHM is located at 246th & Broadway within Van Cortlandt Park.

Address for GPS: 6036 Broadway, Bronx, NY

Parking:
You can park in Van Cortlandt Park's free parking lot, which is a 5 minute walk on park trails from the museum (GPS Link), but please be advised that there is no lighting on the trails. There is also metered street-parking on Broadway (GPS Link).