Annual welcome center event from 12 to 5 p.m.
PADUCAH, Ky. (December 5, 2023) – Whitehaven Welcome Center at Interstate 24 Paducah Exit 7 has scheduled the annual Christmas Open House for Saturday, December 9, from 12 to 5 p.m., CST.
Whitehaven has been graciously decorated by volunteers from several areal garden clubs, including the Paducah Garden Club, Open Gate, Four Seasons, La Petite Fleur, Perennial, The Potting Shed and El Arbor.
The final touches on a major rehabilitation of the outside of the house have been completed to ring in the holidays!
You are invited to come and experience Christmas in this beautiful Paducah landmark.
The following activities are scheduled:
12-2:30 p.m.
Blewett Music Studio will fill the air with Christmas music played on stringed instruments
12-3 p.m.
Members of the Heartland Lace Guild will be making “bobbin lace” in the Parlor
2-4 p.m.
“Santa” Fred Feiler will spread Christmas cheer to youngsters who attend and present a candy cane to each child visitor
3-5 p.m.
Michael Vessels will play his stringed psaltery in the Music Room
3-5 p.m.
Ian Bastida will provide fiddle music
Bill Thistlewood will share his album of Whitehaven’s history
12-5 p.m.
The Paducah Ambassadors will be on hand to answer questions about the house and to assist visitors
Bill Baxter (from the Lloyd Tilghman Civil War Museum) will portray “Charles Dickens” from “A Christmas Carol” with “Scrooge” portrayed by local historian Roy Hensel
Light refreshments will be provided by Walker Hall Event Center, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, Holiday Inn Riverfront, Banks Market, with floral arrangements by Riverside Wholesale Florists. The McCracken County Library has donated a beautiful gift basket that will go to some lucky visitor in a drawing at the end of the day.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky Department of Tourism jointly operate Whitehaven Welcome Center. Employees of both agencies work together to create this annual event with help from dozens of volunteers.
For more information on the Christmas Open House please call (270) 554-2077.
Whitehaven Welcome Center is a restored 1860s Southern mansion that features period furnishings and memorabilia of Paducah native Alben Barkley, who served as Vice President under Harry Truman. Whitehaven is one of the finest Classical Revival residential structures in Kentucky and is the only historic home serving as an interstate welcome center.
