The Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden in Flushing are hosting a series of holiday events throughout December, offering a chance for New Yorkers to embrace the festive spirit.
The historic house museum and its award-winning garden, located at 149-19 38th Ave., invite visitors to include these events in their holiday plans.
On Sunday, Dec. 8, the museum will host its Holiday Historic House Tour from noon to 4 p.m. The museum will be decorated for the season, and musician Kenneth Gartman will lead a holiday sing-along at the piano. Attendees can enjoy hot cider, a cookie sampler, art on view, house tours, and a holiday sale featuring small gifts, plants, and 2024 honey.
For those interested in exploring more, the Holiday Historic House Tour also includes four additional historic homes: the Bowne House, the Lewis Latimer House, Kingsland Homestead, and the Quaker Meeting House. These five locations are within a mile of each other, with free transportation available between them upon request.
Admission to the Voelker Orth Museum’s event is $12, or $10 for members. Single-site tickets will be available at the door. Multi-site tickets for the Annual Holiday Historic House Tour (also known as the Holly Tour) are $25 per person, $20 for members, and $15 for children under 12. These tickets grant access to all five sites and can be purchased online.
Additionally, the museum will feature “Everything for the Garden,” a collection of drawings by artist Kevin Duggan, through Dec. 15. Duggan’s work, inspired by 19th-century seed catalogs, will be displayed, and a closing reception will be held on Dec. 15 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., including a talk by the artist. Duggan’s art explores how these early marketing materials shaped the American gardening aesthetic and promoted flower gardening as a source of spiritual and civic fulfillment.
On Tuesday, Dec. 17, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., the museum will host a Holiday Centerpiece Workshop, where participants will create their own festive centerpieces using evergreens, candles, and decorative elements. Attendees will also receive tips on how to care for their creations. All supplies and a cup of tea will be provided. The cost is $12 for non-members and $10 for members. The event is recommended for adults, teens, and tweens. Tickets can be purchased online.
Patricia B. Sherwood, President of the Board of Directors, also issued an annual appeal for public support. While the museum’s wide range of cultural events throughout the year has provided consistent revenue, Sherwood emphasized the need for continued financial support to sustain the museum’s operations and future improvements.
“Admission and registration fees cover only a small portion of our expenses. Our endowment fund partially maintains the property and supports our programs,” Sherwood said. “With donations to our fresh paint fund last year, we restored the historical façade with a new coat of pink and white exterior paint.”
This year, the museum hopes to refresh the period rooms, create new hands-on activities for visitors, and maintain affordable registration rates for school groups and workshops.
Sherwood encouraged visitors to become members or upgrade their memberships as the most effective way to support the museum. Donations can also be made through the museum’s website at www.vomuseum.org or by mail.
“On behalf of the dedicated staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors, let me thank you in advance for your interest and generous support,” Sherwood said. “Please note that any contribution you make is tax-deductible, and we welcome matching gift contributions from employers.”
