Nutcracker in the Castle at the Paine
Nutcracker in the Castle is presented November 20, 2026 – January 4, 2027 at the Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh.
The immersive holiday experience returns for the 20th season, inviting visitors to follow the journey of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince to the fantastical Land of Sweets, the wondrous Land of Snow, and more scenes from the Nutcracker fairytale. Along the way, the historic Paine mansion features more than 80 Christmas trees, a scavenger hunt, and unexpected surprises.
A 36-foot Christmas tree, presented in celebration of the milestone year, welcomes visitors to walk through and enter into the magical realm beyond. The tree is constructed of more than 200 branches and weighs at least 4,000 lbs. It features more than 21,000 lights to make the occasion sparkle, along with 9,000+ ornaments, and a 3-foot star at its top!
The magic unfolds with three tour experiences: Self-guided tours are a daytime visit, where one can wander at their own pace and read the Nutcracker fairytale from giant storybooks in each elaborately decorated room. Candlelight tours are a self-guided tour in the evening, where one wanders by the glow of the Christmas trees. Guided tours bring the fairytale to life with live acting, music, and dance performances, and are offered on special days and times. Hours, admission, and reservation requirements vary by tour type. Find details and make a reservation at thepaine.org.
Before or after tours, visitors are invited to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cupcake Café in the conservatory to meet a fairy from the Land of the Sugar Plums and to enjoy a delightful Nutcracker-themed cupcake with hot cocoa, milk, or coffee.
Plus, visitors can make a day of it: Be creative with holiday activities in the Studio, located on the lower level of the mansion, see a collection of authentic German nutcrackers on view in the Gothic Gallery, and find dozens of Insta-worthy spots for photos with loved ones.
Nutcracker in the Castle is made possible by Lead Sponsor Verve, A Credit Union and Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cupcake Café Sponsor Amcor.
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