The historic Deering Estate in Miami is trading the usual sleigh-and-snowflake holiday look for something closer to its own backyard: Biscayne Bay. The estate’s 2026 holiday décor theme, called “Tides & Tidings,” fills Richmond Cottage with coastal decorations meant to evoke Charles Deering’s fascination with the sea.
According to Miami’s Community Newspapers, the décor draws on Deering’s own love for seafaring, adventure, and exploration, with the Deering Estate museum team creatively directing the installation. The Deering Estate describes the theme as inspired by Charles Deering’s love for seafaring, adventure, and the natural beauty of Biscayne Bay, tying the holiday look directly to the waterfront property it sits on.
The seed story reports the historic holiday décor is on display daily from November 27, 2026, through January 6, 2027, while a separate report from communitynewspapers.com states the broader holiday event runs from November 26 through January 6, 2027, except on Christmas Day, when the estate is closed. Both accounts agree the display spans the full holiday stretch into the new year, even if the exact opening date differs between the two reports.
Hours, Admission, and What's Off-Limits
The Deering Estate is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., though gates close at 4 p.m., per the same communitynewspapers.com account. Admission covers the holiday décor and is priced at $18 for adults ages 15 and older and $10 for children ages 4 to 14, plus tax, with free entry for Deering Estate Foundation members and children under 4.
Not every corner of the estate will be open to visitors this season. The Stone House is closed to the public for renovation and restoration work, though the rest of the grounds remains open for exploration, the report notes.
A Team Effort Behind the Scenes
The holiday programming is being developed in collaboration with the Deering Estate Foundation, the 100 Ladies of Deering, and volunteers, the same report states. Organizers have framed the historic holiday décor theme as a way to celebrate conservation and connection to the environment, tying the seasonal display back to the estate's broader ecological mission.
Beyond the Richmond Cottage décor, the season brings additional family programming. Story Time and Photos with Santa is part of a larger Holiday by the Bay celebration that includes a holiday market, seasonal treats, holiday crafts, lawn games, and family-friendly scavenger hunts, according to the Deering Estate's event listing. Photos with Santa carry an additional fee, and a photo purchase is required for children to meet him.
A Landmark With Deep Roots
The Deering Estate itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is described as a 21st-century house museum, cultural and ecological field station, and national landmark. It is owned by the State of Florida and managed by the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, and it is designated as one of seven Miami-Dade County heritage parks.
The estate is located at 16701 SW 72nd Avenue in Miami. Later in the season, the grounds will also host Museum Store Sunday, with the Deering Estate noting that more than 2,250 museum stores across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 25 countries were set to take part in the annual celebration.
