Mayowood Mansion Christmas tours are back

(ABC 6 NEWS) – Christmas is right around the corner and the Mayowood Mansion in Rochester is ready to celebrate.

Last year there wasn’t a stocking or tree in sight at the mansion, but this year the home is decorated from top to bottom and ready to welcome visitors.

Each year there is a different theme for the Christmas tours and this year’s theme is Puttin’ on the Ritz.

"You’re going to see a lot of glitz, and glamour and lights and sparkle and there is going to be a lot of 1920s fashion on display," said Mayowood Mansion Tour Coordinator, Kathy Dahl.

Many of the 38 rooms have been decked out in Christmas decor.

"Each room does have a different decorator and those are made of up local businesses here in Rochester, local organizations in Rochester, as well as individuals," said Dahl.

This has been a tradition for many years after the second generation of Mayos donated the home in 1965.

"When the volunteers of the history center got together they decided to create this event as a fundraiser for the history center. And that is when the Friends of Mayowood Mansion organization was formed and they were the ones who first started the Christmas tour tradition," said Dahl.

The money raised helps keep the mansion running.

The Mayowood Mansion is a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and the History Center of Olmsted County.

If you take the guided tour, you can learn more about the home’s history and Mayo family Christmas traditions.

You can learn more about the tours here.

The tours are Wednesday through Sunday.