The Biedenharn Museum & Gardens is a museum complex composed of a Coca-Cola Museum, a Bible Museum, and the historic Biedenharn home. They offer tours and events year-round, but during Christmastime, the premises are transformed into a Winter Wonderland of gorgeous decorations filling all 10 rooms of the historic home. As gardeners string lights, the Monroe Garden Study League works diligently with other volunteers and museum employees to decorate the entire house in just two short days. “Everyone’s all hands-on deck,” says Matthew Scott, the Museum’s Event Coordinator.

The decorations are just the beginning of what the Biedenharn has to offer during the Christmas season. They start planning events about 6 months before the festivities begin, including events like Coca-Cola Truck Night. As their biggest event of the year, Truck Night garners around 3,000 attendees enjoying live music, free photos with Santa, lights in the garden, and food trucks set up along Riverside Drive. Ralph Calhoun, CEO & Executive Director for the Museum, says they have had the same Santa for 15 years. He’s watched families come back year after year and take photos with the exact same Santa as their babies grow into young adults.

When asked about how the Biedenharn family’s traditions are reflected throughout the season, Matthew and Ralph both agreed it was the music in the house.

Live music is an element of almost every Christmas event held at the Biedenharn as singers and other musicians perform in the main room of the house for people passing through or those who choose to watch all night long. Emy-Lou wanted her home to be used for intimate concerts of quality music and small groups of people. The quality music part is for certain, but with crowds as large as Truck Night can turn out, small groups can turn to large ones. Ralph adds that he thinks if Emy-Lou were alive today, that would be precisely what she was looking for.

Whether you’re stressed about work or life or simply looking to experience joy, the Biedenharn offers a magical haven during the holiday season where you can leave your worries and woes at home and enjoy the Christmas spirit. “This is our gift to the community,” Ralph expresses. The Biedenharn Christmas events kick off with a three-day Open House where community members can stroll the home and gardens for free while soaking up the lights and live music and, of course, take a picture with Santa Claus. Check out the Biedenharn all December long for more special community events and beautiful decorations.