Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
11/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/13/2026 15:16
Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site to host Festive Friday holiday tours
SPRINGFIELD - The Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site will kick off its annual holiday season Friday, Nov. 20 with evening tours featuring festive floral displays created by dozens of volunteers from the Springfield Civic Garden Club.
The seven-night Festive Fridays series Nov. 20 through Jan. 15 offers visitors an opportunity to experience the historic home decorated for the holidays. Tours will feature unique holiday decorations, refreshments and seasonal music by Ben Bedford.
Festive Fridays will take place Nov. 20 and 27; Dec. 4, 11 and 18; and Jan. 8 and 15. The site will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
"The beauty and historic value of the Dana-Thomas House are deeply rooted in the capital city," said Dana-Thomas House site superintendent Justin Blandford. "We could not make these holiday events happen without our longtime partners at the Springfield Civic Garden Club, Dana-Thomas House Foundation and Downtown Springfield Inc."
The 30-minute tours begin at 4 p.m. and depart every 30 minutes, with the final tour beginning at 7 p.m. Reservations through Eventbrite are strongly recommended.
Following the tours, visitors can stop by the Sumac Shop to holiday shop, enjoy hot cocoa and make s'mores around a bonfire, weather permitting.
About IDNR
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes. Today, IDNR's work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov and follow us on Facebook , YouTube and LinkedIn .
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency published this content on November 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 13, 2026 at 21:16 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]