Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. invites the public to take a Holiday Candlelight Tour of Essex County Kip’s Castle to view the stained glass Tiffany windows and learn the history of this hidden gem. They will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, December 10 and 17; Thursdays, December 12 and 19; and Fridays, December 18 and 20. Kip’s Castle is located at 22 Crestmont Road in Verona.
Admission is $10 and includes coffee, hot chocolate and cookies. Tickets must be purchased in advance and can be done online. Tuesday, December 10 and Friday, December 13 are already sold out.
Space is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors should meet at the front door of Kip’s Castle for the beginning of the tour. Please note that not all areas of the tour are handicap accessible.
Essex County preserved Kip’s Castle and 11-acres of property in 2007 using grants from the New Jersey Green Acres Program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund. Since the 30-room medieval-style castle, carriage house and 11-acre property were added as the 18th park in the historic Essex County Park System, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs has hosted a variety of free community events at the site. In addition, the Castle is the headquarters for the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.