Holiday House 2024

By Jubilee P. Reid

The holiday season is quickly approaching which means the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum is preparing to host its annual Holiday House dinner and auction, sponsored by the Hugh M. Willson Family Foundation. This year’s event will be held at the museum on Thursday, November 14^th, beginning with a bake sale and auction preview at 5:30 p.m. A silent auction will run from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. followed by a live auction. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets to this festive occasion are $35 each and can be purchased at the museum office as well as online at livingheritagemuseum.org. Online ticket purchasers will still need to stop by the museum to pick up a physical ticket.

Holiday House is organized by the Museum Guild which was founded nearly forty years ago. The first Holiday House was hosted in 1985 and all proceeds from the auctions held throughout the years benefit the museum. Anyone is welcome to join the guild to participate in supporting the museum. Guild members come together to cook the delicious dinner as well as assorted baked goods for sale. A local dulcimer group, Harmony & G.R.I.T.S., will play live music throughout the evening setting an Appalachian Christmas backdrop to the occasion. Keith Bester will decorate the museum’s guild room with festive décor for this “Magic of Christmas” themed event.

More than eighty generously donated items will be auctioned at this year’s event including elegant Christmas décor and original artwork such as an “Uncle Sam Santa” hand carved by folk art master Johnny McGrew. Many unique pieces of handmade art from local basket makers, woodworkers, and other artists will be available, including a beautiful birchwood bowl hand turned by Scottie Mayfield from a tree that grew on museum grounds. The auction will also feature a variety of gift certificates to local businesses and restaurants.  

The 2024 Holiday House auction will include an exciting array of events and activities. Children will love tickets to the Tennessee Aquarium and Zoo Knoxville, while anyone in the family can enjoy a private cooking class with former professional chef Paul Semonoff, private guitar lessons with local musician Jim Brooks, two tickets to any theatrical show at the Cumberland County Playhouse, two deluxe ski packages for Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg, a one-year family membership to the Athens YMCA, and tickets to a performance of Hamilton at the Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga and Chicago at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville. These activities make wonderful holiday gifts for those who enjoy memory-making experiences.

Holiday House is a fun event where you can purchase holiday gifts for family or friends while supporting the museum and its programs. Tickets are in limited supply so be sure to get yours quickly. Come to this entertaining holiday event to enjoy a delicious dinner and see what unique treasures you might find!