Discover the treasures in your own backyard on this admission-free day at Winterthur! Get outside and explore the summer garden, take a hayride over the hills, or learn something new in our galleries. Enjoy live music and activities around the estate such as beekeeping, crafting, garden hikes, and story time. Together with our community partners, Winterthur offers summer fun in the shade and sun! Join us free of charge all day.
Please note: Tickets are not available at this time. Walk-ins welcome on August 6 after 1:00 pm.
Please be aware that parking is limited, and we expect a large turnout early in the day. Please visit any time, but consider arriving later. You will have plenty of time to enjoy all Winterthur has to offer.
Introductory House Tours*
10:00 am–3:30 pm
Be sure to try the scavenger hunt in the house!
Garden Tram Tour*
10:00 am–3:30 pm
See highlights of the garden and learn the history of Winterthur on this 30-minute narrated tour.
Best & Beautiful Garden Walk
11:00 am
Visit garden areas not seen from the tram route and discover the blooms and areas of peak interest on this guided garden walk to see what is best and beautiful today in our changing naturalistic garden. Meet at the Visitor Center Patio.
Activities
Visitor Center Café and Patio
Look at bird wings and biomimicry with Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, and make paper airplanes that mimic flight of different birds, based on their wing type.
Learn summer safety tips from Early Head Start, plus enjoy their toy and book give-away.
Learn which vegetables can be seeded for the cool-weather fall season at home and see demonstrations of seeding and transplanting vegetables into containers from the Food Bank of Delaware. Take home free seeding supplies to use your new skills and try at home. A donation box for canned goods will be in the Visitor Center Lobby; please donate if you are able.
Come play with your child and learn how games and activities stimulate their development with Books, Balls & Blocks. Skill-building activities in stations focus on: communication and language, cognition and problem solving, gross and fine motor skills, and literacy.
Get all the buzz from Winterthur’s beekeeper. Learn about the beekeeping process and take an up-close look at one of the observation hives.
Visit the Delaware Estuary as they display clean water science in action! Learn all about an important critter in the Delaware River watershed and how it impacts our rivers, streams, and ponds. Observe water clarity and measure freshwater mussels like a field scientist.
Plate Puzzles Activity. Find matching pieces of broken plates and making a paper plate puzzle to take home.
Personal Plates Activity. Decorate paper plates with designs inspired by Winterthur’s presidential plates in the house and galleries.
Galleries Reception Atrium
Visit the Brandywine Hundred Library table for free activities and giveaways for families, and hear about free library resources, new services, upcoming programs, future directions, and why the library is the best deal in town. Discover the wonders that await you at the New Castle County Public Libraries!
See basket weaving by PartnerShip Crafts.
What’s beneath the surface of a painting? What does a priceless work of art look like under the microscope? Come and find out how Winterthur’s conservators and scientists use technology to learn how art is made and how we can preserve it for future generations.
Landscape & Still Life Painting Activity. Draw your own landscapes and still lifes in pencil and crayon, inspired by those seen at Winterthur and in Jackie Kennedy’s White House.
Enchanted Woods
Join Wilmington Ballet and experience the beauty and art of traditional Chinese dance. Artist Eileen Knoor will lead you through traditional Chinese dance movements in a fun and engaging demonstration for the whole family, 12:45–1:30 pm,
Follow a story book trail as you read Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peek by Marianne Berkes.
Enjoy live music by Bill at We Kids Rock, 10:30 am–12:30 pm.
Custom Pots Activity. Decorate terra cotta pots with garden-inspired designs.
Seed Planting Activity. Plant a geranium seed in the custom terra cotta pot and learn how to care for it.
Watch Monet Le’Mon, a Wilmington-based artist and a Winterthur staff member, paint live and see her impressionist paintings based on Winterthur.
Hayrides*
Jump on the hay wagon for a ride across the rolling hills and meadows. Hayrides will depart from the east side of the galleries every 30 minutes, 10:00 am–3:00 pm.
Food & Beverages
Bring your own picnic to enjoy in the garden, or purchase food onsite.
Visitor Center | Grilled Foods
Museum Store | Sandwiches and Bites
Enchanted Woods | Sweet Treats
Winterthur thanks our partner organizations that join us in celebrating community. Please consider donating or supporting one of these incredible local organizations.
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Early Head Start, The University of Delaware
*House Tour and Tram Tours are first come, first served, 10:00 am–3:30 pm, with possible wait times of 20 minutes. The Best & Beautiful Garden Walk and hayrides are also first come, first served.