Gardens manager Michelle Hawks has led Reynolda House and Gardens’ annual Wreath Decorating Classes for the last 15 years. She hand-cuts the pristine sprigs of greenery from Reynolda’s grounds — delicate cedar with little blue berries, hearty rosemary clippings, waxy magnolia leaves. When she passes alliums post-bloom, she snips their stalks and spray paints them silver or gold. “I spray-paint lily pads, as well,” she says. “It’s got to have glitter because I like glitter at Christmastime.”
On workshop days, wreath-decorators stream into Reynolda’s Brown Family Conservatory and station themselves along tables lined with Hawks’s botanical treasures. Then, with just a little bit of guidance, they get to work. “I love to hear the laughter from the room. Some people will say they’ve never made anything, but to hear them laugh and enjoy being out of their comfort zone, I know they’re having a good time,” Hawks says. “I tell them, ‘If you’re coming for a structured class, you are in the wrong place. We’re learning from each other.’”
Reynolda House and Village and its stately neighbor Graylyn Estate flank either side of Winston-Salem’s Reynolda Road. Each offers a glimpse into the lavish lifestyles of two influential families who helped shape the Twin City: the Reynolds and the Grays. During the holidays, both properties exude warmth and hospitality with beloved traditions, like wreath-decorating, caroling, and elegant family meals. Read on for some of our favorite seasonal programs and activities to experience between both places, all a short walk from each other.
Step into storied elegance this holiday season. Experience winter traditions steeped in history, marvel at festively decorated landmarks and illuminated streets, then unwind fireside at sophisticated stays. Your enchanting holiday escape awaits.
Graylyn’s Christmas decor radiates against the quiet beauty of winter. Photography courtesy of Graylyn Estate
One of Winston-Salem’s most luxurious hotels, Graylyn feels like it was plucked from the French countryside. Gracefully resting among 55 acres of gently rolling hills — 10 minutes from downtown and two minutes from Reynolda — the storybook Manor House was born from the dreams of Bowman and Nathalie Lyons Gray, who built it in 1932. “It is beautiful all the time. But if you had to pick one time of year to see it, you don’t miss the holidays,” Kathleen Hutton says, who works as the coordinator of house experiences.
Every afternoon throughout the holidays, as the fire glows and crackles in the living room, guests can cozy up in one of the Grays’ plush antique chairs, nibble a freshly made butterscotch cookie (Nathalie’s own recipe, of course), and sip a hot cup of cocoa.
Pause and listen as carolers fill the halls with music — or sing along. Photography courtesy of Reynolda House Museum of American Art
An Enchanted Christmas at Reynolda takes place after hours at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art on December 13 and 17. Visitors can stroll through the house and admire decorations like antique glass ornaments and vintage electric lights. Bring the whole family to make holiday cards, sip hot chocolate, and imagine the Reynolds family’s excitement to have their home complete in late 1917 — just in time for Christmas.
On Friday afternoons, the holiday spirit rings from Reynolda’s walls, and you can join in. From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., a musician comes to Reynolda House and plays popular carols on Reynolda’s 1917 Aeolian organ. Gather round and sing along or relax and let the sounds of the season fill you with joy. Reservations are encouraged but not required.
Dressed in 20th-century-inspired seasonal decor, Reynolda Reception Hall was an ideal setting for the Reynolds family’s gatherings. Photography courtesy of Reynolda House Museum of American Art
Across the road, Graylyn’s Santa Experience holiday brunch sells out within weeks of the event. During a season filled with activities and to-do lists, the tradition lets parents savor those moments that sometimes feel fleeting. “Let’s face it, parents are challenged around the holiday time,” Hutton says. “This is a chance for grownups to sit down with their children around a beautiful table and enjoy a delicious brunch.”
In addition to brunch, families discover holiday arts and crafts and, of course, a visit with Old Saint Nick. “Santa is wonderful. He works with the children and their families so they get amazing photographs,” Hutton says. And snow is never left to chance — snow machines lend frosty touches around the outside of the estate. “Wherever Santa travels, there has to be snow!”
Escape the winter cold and warm up in Graylyn’s hospitable setting. Photography courtesy of Visit Winston-Salem
It’s long been whispered that if you want to know the real secrets in a grand house, you’d better ask the butler — but will the butler tell?! On Graylyn’s Butler Tours, guests get an insider’s view of Graylyn’s nooks and crannies, all decorated for the holidays.
“Any guest can request a Butler Tour, but if you’re not staying at the hotel, you can buy a ticket for our monthly Tour Pour Du Jour, a two-hour tour that takes you all through the house, including into one of the Gray family’s bedrooms,” Hutton says. “Mrs. Gray traveled the world, and she would bring back souvenirs — like a 17-head shower! On these tours, you’ll feel like you’re a special guest of the Grays.”
Wreaths decorated with red bows complement the green trim of Reynolda House’s exterior. Photography courtesy of Reynolda House Museum of American Art
The Reynolda House brings generations together for the holiday season like no place else. As they were when the home was built in 1917, the halls are decked with festive garlands, trees, and wreaths, all made from greenery gathered to celebrate the season.
Another feast for the eyes is in the house’s galleries. This year, in addition to the museum’s remarkable permanent collection, explore their special exhibit: Camel City: Tobacco & Transformation, on view through January 4. Through paintings, photographs, and archival material, the exhibit sheds light on the unseen forces that led Winston-Salem to become the formidable Camel City. Tickets required.
After enjoying a cocktail by the fire, sit for dinner at Graylyn’s upscale dining option, the Manor House. Photography courtesy of Graylyn Estate
Guests and locals know that dining at Graylyn feels like an unforgettable experience that could become the best holiday tradition. The house has two ways to dine, upstairs at the Manor House and the more casual Grille Room in the home’s lower floor. Either way, Hutton recommends that visitors first enjoy fireside cocktails beside the decorated tree to get into the holiday spirit before heading to dine.
Upstairs, in the Grays’ actual dining rooms, servers cater to your desires as you explore the fine dining menu, which is bookended by chef-crafted traditions like the Graylyn Caesar salad and Graylyn crème brûlée.
In the Grille Room, guests order at the bar while a big, cheery fireplace invites anyone to come settle into a soft, leather chair for conversation or simply a good book. The menu offers seasonal cocktails and bar fare, like the signature Graylyn burger, which includes a succulent smear of bourbon bacon jam.
Take your time as you stroll through Graylyn and admire the elaborate holiday decorations. Photography courtesy of Visit Winston-Salem
Hutton can’t share details — only Santa knows, she insists — but she will say that Christmas morning is a celebratory time around Graylyn. “When you wake up in the morning, you will feel like a kid again.”
Every year throughout the late 1920s and into the early 1930s, Nathalie hosted unrivaled holiday parties. “We have records showing that some years 12,000 children were at the parties — and every child got a gift,” Hutton adds. That’s the spirit Graylyn exudes on Christmas morning when guests open their doors to find an oversized stuffed stocking.
Craft holiday decor and gifts with loved ones during Enchanted Christmas at Reynolda. Photography courtesy of Reynolda House Museum of American Art
“Christmas morning is a wonderful vibe,” she says. “People love greeting each other and talking. All these wonderful touches make you feel special. It is warm and inviting, and you feel like you belong.”
Where will you begin? Whether you venture to Reynolda for timeless decor, caroling, and wreath-decorating or make Graylyn your home for the holidays, this season is always merry and bright in Winston-Salem.
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