Cairnwood by Candlelight to Feature Live Jazz and 2-Story Christmas Tree

in Bryn Athyn is inviting area residents to start a new holiday tradition this year with an evening of candlelight and music at the 116-year-old mansion.

The Beaux Arts style mansion, swathed in holiday lighting and resplendent with luscious greens and festive décor, will host “Cairnwood by Candlelight,” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15.

Visitors to the estate at 1005 Cathedral Rd., designed by the renowned architectural firm Carrère and Hastings, will have an opportunity to see all three floors of the mansion, the servant’s quarters, and the tower. Taking center stage in the mansion’s Great Hall is a two-story Christmas tree adorned with more than 2,000 lights and 300 pieces of sugared fruit.

The evening will feature self-guided tours, live music by a jazz trio, an array of yuletide desserts, and a display of Victorian gowns and other historic exhibits.

The gowns once were worn by Gertrude Pitcairn, when her husband, industrialist John Pitcairn, and their family called Cairnwood home.

Built in 1895, the estate is regarded as an exemplary showcase of the grandeur of the Gilded Age, according to Shannon Walko, Cairnwood’s marketing and sales manager.

While some modernization has taken place, the mansion remains much as it was when it was built. Today, the estate, owned by the Academy of the New Church and operated by a nonprofit foundation, hosts weddings, business gatherings and other celebrations.

Cairnwood by Candlelight is being sponsored by The Party Center, Robert Fair Caterers, Dynamic Crew Event Services, Roggio Weddings, Angela Malicki Events and Philly Event Group.

Admission is $15; Cairnwood members are free.

For additional information, call Cairnwood at 215-947-2004, or visit www.cairnwood.org.