It will be an exciting, elegant and even romantic winter at Meadow Brook Hall, with the all new Needle Felting Art Night and the return of several popular events. The Great Estate will engage and inspire this winter with wool creativity at the Needle Felting Art Night, the discovery of a new side of Meadow Brook with the Flashlight Tours and Downton Abbey-inspired Servant’s Life Tour, a historic and delicious afternoon with Downton Days Tea, Talk & Tour, and an evening of romance with the Valentine’s Dinner for two.
Tickets for all events must be booked in advance and all events are expected to sell out.
Get Crafty or Romantic
Spend an evening getting creative with the all new Needle Felting Art Night! Join Meadow Brook Hall and Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA) at Meadow Brook to make your own artwork.
Instructors from PCCA will be on site to teach guests how to create their own needle felted design inspired by the art at Meadow Brook. Set for 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, this event includes instruction, all supplies, and light refreshments in the Christopher Wren Dining Room. Tickets are $50 per person at meadowbrookhall.org/needlefelting
Treat your sweetheart to the most romantic evening this Valentine’s Day at the Great Estate. The experience begins with a romantic candlelight cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception with live music and the chance to explore the historic estate.
Each couple will enjoy a delectable three course dinner at a private table for two, with wine service and a decadent dessert. The event is set for 6:30-10 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Tickets are $125 per person at meadowbrookhall.org/valentinesdinner.
Bring the Old World Charm to Life
Explore the secret lives of the downstairs staff with Meadow Brook’s Downton Abbey-inspired Servant’s Life tour on weekends in February. This immersive tour takes visitors behind-the-scenes to experience life as it was lived in the “downstairs” of Meadow Brook Hall (Michigan’s own Downton Abbey) when the head housekeeper invites them to be part of the staff.
It’s the perfect way to bring old world charm to your life! The tour runs at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in February and March. Tickets are $45 per person at meadowbrookhall.org/servantslife.
The elegant Downton Days Tea, Talk & Tour event will showcase a talk from Meadow Brook Curator Madelyn Chrapla about the customs and etiquette in the time of Downton Abbey.
Set in Meadow Brook’s exquisite Christopher Wren Dining room, the afternoon includes the guided Servants’ Life Tour and guests are encouraged to wear Downton Abbey-inspired attire for this event. The event is at 1-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22. Tickets are $65 per person at meadowbrookhall.org/downtontea.
See Meadow Brook in a New Light
See Meadow Brook in a new light as its hidden details and exquisite craftsmanship are illuminated like never before with after-dark Flashlight Tours. Docents will go behind ropes, under tables and inside cabinets to highlight the secret spaces often missed in the daylight and guests will enjoy new sights and stories about the storied estate.
This is a unique and intimate experience, with only ten guests per tour. Tours will run select on Tuesdays in February and March. Tickets are $30 per person at meadowbrookhall.org/flashlight.
Meadow Brook hosts an engaging variety of events for the community throughout the year, from family friendly experiences to date nights and beyond. For more information about events at Meadow Brook, visit meadowbrookhall.org/events.
Guided and Self-Guided House Tours will also return in February. Tours at Meadow Brook takes visitors on a journey through the three main living levels of the historic mansion. Docent guides on the Guided House Tour will share the incredible story of the Dodge and Wilson families and marvel at the grand spaces and beautiful details that make Meadow Brook unique.
Guided House Tours will run at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, starting Feb. 2. Tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for seniors and military, $8 for youth aged 6-12, and $3 for Museums for All participants. Children 5 and under and Oakland University students are free. Self-Guided touring starts on Feb.2 and runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Meadow Brook Hall is fully self-supporting, relying on special events for the preservation and interpretation of this National Historic Landmark. For more information, call (248) 364-6200 or visit meadowbrookhall.org.
Meadow Brook Hall is the historic home built by one of the automotive aristocracy’s most remarkable women, Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of auto pioneer John Dodge, and her second husband, Alfred Wilson. Constructed between 1926 and 1929, Meadow Brook Hall represents one of the finest examples of Tudor-revival style architecture in America, and is especially renowned for its superb craftsmanship, architectural detailing and grand scale of 88,000 square-feet. It was the center of a country estate that included 1,400 acres, numerous farm buildings, recreational facilities, several residences and formal gardens. Named a National Historic Landmark in 2012, Meadow Brook Hall strives to preserve and interpret its architecture, landscape, and fine and decorative art so that visitors may be entertained, educated and inspired by history. Meadow Brook Hall is located in Rochester, Mich. on the campus of Oakland University.
