Christmas At The Marble House
During the Gilded Age, Newport gained fame as the summer resort for wealthy families during the period. The city’s mansion, constructed between 1865 and 1915 were primarily utilized during an 8 to 10-week period from July to August. This is why palatial houses like the Breakers, spanning 120,000 square feet, are ironically called ‘Newport Summer Cottages.’
Since that time, Newport, Rhode Island, was a city of two dichotomous seasons: the bustling summer of the grand Gilded Age “cottages” and the quiet, boarded-up isolation of winter. This changed in 1971, when a dedicated group of volunteers led by Ruth Myers launched “Christmas in Newport.” Celebrating its 55th anniversary in 2025, the festival has evolved from a modest two-week event into a month-long celebration that helps define the city’s winter identity and serves as a vital economic and cultural engine.
Door Decorating Contest / Royal Male
The Vision of Ruth Myers
The founding of Christmas in Newport was rooted in a desire to recapture the “non-commercial” spirit of the holidays. Ruth Myers envisioned a celebration that prioritized community and history over modern consumerism. Her most enduring contribution was the mandate for clear, white lights throughout the city. Myers believed that white lights better simulated the soft glow of candlelight from the 18th and 19th centuries, maintaining Newport’s historic aesthetic. Today, this uniform “candlelight” glow remains a signature of the city’s holiday charm, transforming the cobblestone streets into a living postcard.
Main Atrium of The Breakers During Christmas
Going from a Summer Resort to a Winter Wonderland
Perhaps the most significant historical irony of Christmas in Newport involves the famous mansions. During the Gilded Age, the Vanderbilts, Astors, and other prominent families primarily occupied these “cottages” only in the summer, and so the homes were never actually decorated for Christmas by their original owners.
The Preservation Society of Newport County changed this narrative by opening landmarks like The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House for the holidays. These mansions now feature “Sparkling Lights” displays and towering Christmas trees—most notably the 15-foot poinsettia tree in the Great Hall of The Breakers. This tradition has effectively rewritten the public’s perception of these houses, linking them forever with festive Gilded Age glamour.
Marble House Dining Room at Christmas
Community Impact and Traditions
The impact of the festival extends far beyond tourism. Operated as a non-profit, the organization relies on over 1,500 volunteers and raises thousands of dollars for local charities annually. The calendar is packed with events that celebrate both the city’s maritime and colonial heritage, including:
–The Illuminated Boat Parade: A nautical twist on a holiday parade where the harbor glows with decorated vessels.
–Holiday Lantern Tours: Led by the Newport Historical Society, these tours explore how colonial Newporters—from Quakers to Puritans—originally viewed the holiday.
–The Doorway Decorating Contest: A local favorite that encourages residents to deck their historic homes with greenery and ribbons.
The Illuminated Boat Parade
By successfully branding Newport not just as a summer resort but also as a premier winter destination, the “Christmas in Newport” program has widened the economic “shoulder season,” allowing local shops and restaurants to thrive for many more months. It stands as a testament to how a community-led initiative can preserve history while creating a new, vibrant legacy.
The Clarke Cook House / Bowen’s Wharf
If you have an interest in renovating either your summer cottage or a year-round residence in New England, please reach out to A4 Architecture as we would be pleased to apply out award-winning skills to your project.
Ross Cann, RA, AIA, LEED AP, is an author, historian, teacher and practicing architect living and working in Newport, RI. He holds degrees in Architecture and Architectural History from Yale, Cambridge, and Columbia Universities.