Celebrate Thanksgiving at Kiplin Hall this autumn

Visitors are invited to Kiplin Hall and Gardens this autumn to celebrate a festival not normally observed in the UK; Thanksgiving.

The Jacobean hall shares its origin story, which dates to 1625, with the Calvert family, founders of Maryland, USA. New displays at the hall explore the tradition of Thanksgiving in America through food, music and famous faces. Thanksgiving is celebrated in the USA on the fourth Thursday in November. The displays at Kiplin Hall are open now until Thanksgiving on Thursday 27th November.

Curator Alice Rose explains the motivation for the displays,

“While we don’t normally celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK it’s an important time in America. People often travel long distances to be with family for Thanksgiving weekend. Today there’s much more recognition of the role colonisation played in the erasure of Native American nations and cultures. At Kiplin we have used the Thanksgiving displays to stimulate conversations and discussion. Taking time to really take stock and consider what we are thankful for today. At Kiplin Hall Trust we have immense gratitude for our volunteers. Over 200 people regularly give their time to help preserve Kiplin Hall and Gardens, keeping it open it to the public, so its history can be shared. They are a crucial part of the organisation; we couldn’t be more thankful to have their support.”

While learning about Thanksgiving customs, visitors can consider what they are thankful for today and share their gratitude. An art installation made of painted handprints creates the appearance of a cascade of autumn leaves floating in the grand staircase.  The displays on the ground floor are supported by activities in the Family Activity Room upstairs and a food and music trail around the Hall.

Kiplin Hall and Gardens is open 6 days a week, closed on Thursdays. With one notable exception, in celebration of Thanksgiving Day, Kiplin will open for an extra day on Thursday 27th November 2025, before closing for the winter. Reopening in the new year on Friday 6th February 2026. During the closure work will be underway for the big winter clean and creating new displays for 2026.