Holiday activities abound at Gillette Castle State Park in Hadlyme, despite the mansion’s recent closure due to a restoration project.

The popular tourist destination nestled atop the “Seventh Sister” hill at 67 River Road is expected to re-open to the public over the Memorial Day weekend in 2023.

Meanwhile, visitors may stroll about the grounds from 8 a.m. until sunset daily year-round, and enjoy a festive holiday program on Black Friday and on Saturdays and Sundays between the two major holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Those dates are Nov. 25-27 and Dec. 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18.

At the cider station just off the main path to the castle, hot cider, cocoa, and snacks will be available for purchase from noon until 4 p.m. on all those days, weather permitting. Visitors also will have a chance to congregate around the warmth of a nearby fire pit. Kids can enjoy a scavenger hunt and creating colored images of the historic castle.

Live performances by several regional musicians have been planned. The Flute Loops will engage visitors with fun flute concert on Nov. 27. The Chameleon Trio will charm guests with classic recorder music on Dec. 17, and Mystic Winds performs using a variety of woodwinds to the visitors center on Dec. 18. All performances start at 1 p.m. at the Visitor Center.

Volunteers Andrea and Ron Kowalski will be leading interpretive hikes along William Gillette’s historic narrow-gauge train trails. The first hike will be at 2 p.m. on Black Friday, Nov. 25.

Special appearances by “William and Helen Gillette” will begin at 2 p.m. each Sunday afternoon inside the Visitor Center, presented by Harold “Tyke” and Theodora “Teddie” Niver, according to Lynn Wilkinson, president of the all-volunteer Friends of Gillette Castle State Park.

Wilkinson adds that “we also plan to have a daily raffle for $1 that gives all visitors an opportunity to win the 240-page, glossy paperback book, ‘A Shared Landscape’. This is a guide to all the special state parks and forests in Connecticut.”

A schedule of free holiday events is posted on the organization’s website at https://www.gillettecastlefriends.org. The organization's mission includes the preservation, restoration and conservation of the historic structure and its scenic grounds.

State officials are expected to renovate and improve the terrace adjacent to the Castle — but the extensive grounds are fully accessible and photo-friendly for the holidays.

Efforts also are under way to safeguard the home of Gillette’s longtime employee Yukitaka Osaki from deterioration, part of an ongoing effort to preserve the historic riverfront structure.

Trail maps and videos of the estate may be found on the Friends website. Those interested in becoming a Friends member may sign up online or download a mail-in application form at the website, or direct their questions to info@gillettecastlefriends.org or (860) 222-7850.