Bracebridge Dinner is hands down my favorite Yuletide Ceremony!
Each December the world-famous Ahwahnee Hotel (formerly the Majestic Yosemite Hotel) puts together a Christmas Celebration that includes an artistic four-hour pageant of classic carols, glorious music, and an elaborate feast in the Ahwahnee Dining Room.
The Bracebridge ceremony was written by American author Washington Irving and takes place in an English manor
Bracebridge Dinner
I get asked all the time when is the best time to visit Yosemite National Park. Most people look shocked when I tell them that I personally love Yosemite in the Winter, especially in December!
The first thing I tell everyone is that Yosemite is a great park for all seasons but why I love Yosemite in the winter is that it is full of Christmas Spirit and one of the most magical events, the Bracebridge Dinner!
People dress up to the nines (Yes even top hats!) for this spectacular event!
Bracebridge Dinner History
The first Bracebridge Dinner was first held in December 1927. The Ahwahnee Hotel had just opened in July and Yosemite Park and Curry Company President, Donald Tresidder, envisioned a Yuletide celebration in the hotel's dining room. Little did he know that this would become a true Christmas Tradition in Yosemite known worldwide.
Tresidder hired Garnet Holme, a California pageant director, to create the Bracebridge Dinner and the show took its initial form. The show was based on Washington Irving’s sketchbook “A Christmas at Bracebridge Hall.” Holmes passed away in 1929 leaving a void in the direction of the Bracebridge Dinner.
Tresidder then asked Ansel Adams, a two-year actor as the "Lord of Misrule" of the event to rework the play. Adams went on to create the basic form of the pageant as we know it today. His original script of the “new” Bracebridge Dinner has remained largely intact since that initial performance in 1929.
Ansel Adams and The Bracebridge Dinner
1927 was a particularly good year for the young 25-year-old San Francisco native and famed photographer Ansel Adams. He had taken one of his most famous photographs "Monolith, The Face of Half Dome" and was the first director and performer as one of the main characters (the Jester) of the first-ever Bracebridge Dinner.
Most people today just know Adams as the famous photographer as he took many iconic black and white photographs that brought national attention to Yosemite National Park. Adams was an advocate of "pure" photography favoring sharp focus and the use of the full tonal range of a photograph.
Today you can see many of his works at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley right next to the visitor center. What you may not know about Adams is that his early passion was playing the piano and he almost quit photography to become a classical musician.
Bracebridge Dinner Dress Code
The dress code for the Bracebridge Dinner states: If you ever wanted to dress formally, Christmas at Bracebridge Hall is the time to do so. Many men wear tuxedos, while women often dress in formal gowns.
At a minimum, we recommend a dark suit or a fancy cocktail dress. Squire Bracebridge requests that you not come in costume to the Bracebridge Dinner.
The reality is that you should prepare to wear something super nice! I would say that the majority of men did wear a tuxedo and the women looked pretty magnificent as well!
Don't plan on wearing the minimum unless you just really like feeling out of place. The best part is that you can get photos before the event and have them shipped directly to your house.
Bracebridge Dinner Tickets
Bracebridge dinner tickets can be purchased online. 2019 ticket prices were $320/adult or $373/adult with photo package and $252/child (age 12 and under).
The show is not recommended for children under 10 years of age as the dinner is four hours in length.
Gratuities are included in the price of your ticket however if you choose to add wine or a cocktail these will be additional costs and gratuities are not included.
When purchasing your Bracebridge tickets, you have the option to package your deal with a hotel reservation at the Ahwahnee or the Yosemite Valley Lodge.
Do I need to apply for a lottery to get tickets to the Bracebridge Dinner?
Up until 2002, there were only 2,000 spots for each year's Bracebridge Dinner. and tickets to the performance were distributed by lottery. There were as many as 60,000 people annually applying for 2,000 available spots.
The Bracebridge Dinner has now expanded to allow open ticketing, and audiences have filled the 350 available seats each night!
Make sure to get your tickets early as this is still a very popular event and hotels fill up fast in the Yosemite Valley.
What to expect on the day of Bracebridge Dinner
Register for your Bracebridge Seating Tickets
12:00 PM -7:00 PM
Go to the Mural Room in the Ahwahnee Hotel beginning at 12:00 PM to pick up your seating tickets for the Bracebridge Dinner
The History of Bracebridge Talk
2:00 PM -2:45 PM
Meet in the Winter Club Room in the Ahwahnee Hotel and get the inside history of one of Yosemite's most famous traditions and explore one of the National Park's most famous Hotels filled with Christmas decorations.
Bracebridge Dinner Portraits
2:30 PM -5:30 PM
Portraits will be taken in the Solarium Room in the Ahwahnee Hotel on the far end of the Great Lounge beginning at 2:30 p.m. and concluding at 5:00 p.m. They are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis.
We arrived early and did not have to wait in a long line and were able to enjoy our photo session with our photographer who even had time to take pictures with our phones. Do not expect to get this service if you wait later in the afternoon when the majority of the guests show up.
Bracebridge Piano Music and Christmas Caroling
3:00 PM- 6:00 PM
The Great lounge in the Ahwahnee Hotel is a beautiful place to relax before the show. Approximately an hour before the show pamphlets with Christmas Carols are passed out to guests to sing along and get into the Christmas Cheer before Bracebridge Dinner Begins.
Bracebridge Dinner Begins
6:00 PM-10:00 PM
You will notice that people will start lining up somewhere between 15-30 minutes before Bracebridge Dinner Begins.
This is because you sit at a round table and seating is first come- first served. This can be very important as you will not want your back to the performance.
The majority of the show is at the front of the Dining hall and the center aisle as each item is presented for the feast.
Make sure to take in the moment walking into the dining hall all lit with candlelight! I absolutely loved the attention to detail!
Everything from the candle holders on the dining room tables to the props like the Peacock Pie is the original ones used from the first Bracebridge Dinner.
The best way to describe the Bracebridge Dinner is that it is a Seven Course Meal with an English charm of theater and music.
I was immediately drawn in, and before I realized it, four hours had passed and the show was over.
The dinner itself is a feast of food! Not just a lot of food but sumptuous food, especially the baron of beef!
Bracebridge Dinner Menu
The Bracebridge Dinner menu can change from year to year but it always has the same titles for each of its seven courses.
You may ask why? The answer is simple, they use the same props from the very first Bracebridge dinner in 1927!
I personally appreciated how well they managed dietary restrictions as I can't have nuts and my wife is vegetarian.
We simply handed our server our dietary needs and they took care of the rest.
I have to say that the presentation was wonderful and the food was absolutely fantastic! The evening was topped off with a magical plum pudding!
Here is a look at the dietary restriction menu. They are able to truly adapt the menu to fit dietary needs including no soy, nuts, dairy, eggs, meat, and wheat.
You are given this ticket that sits next to your plate detailing your dietary restrictions. The servers do a great job working off of the list and making sure your food comes at the same time as other guest's food.
Yosemite National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$0.00 for Education/Academic Group
$300.00 for Non-Commercial Group (16+ persons)
$45.00-$125.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons)
$125.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$300.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Yosemite National Park Lodging
If you are wondering where to stay in Yosemite National Park there are multiple options available ranging from tent cabins to national park lodges.
Ahwahnee Hotel
The Ahwahnee Hotel is located in Yosemite Valley and is known throughout the world as one of the most luxurious National Park Lodges.
Wawona Hotel - Currently Closed
Built in 1856 the Wawona Hotel formerly Big Trees Lodge is on the National Historic Landmark located near the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and the Pioneer History Center in Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite Valley Lodge
If you are looking to stay in the heart of Yosemite National Park than you will love Yosemite Valley Lodge.
The lodge is located close to Yosemite Falls which makes it a great base for a Yosemite vacation.
Curry Village Cabins
Part of the Curry Village complex that was previously known as Half Dome Village.
Curry Village Tent Cabins
The Curry Village Tent Cabins are a great option for staying in Yosemite Valley. Available for booking on Expedia
Housekeeping Camp
If you are looking to stay in the heart of Yosemite Valley and not bring your own tent you will love Housekeeping Camp.
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge
Located off the Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge includes 69 canvas-tent cabins without electricity.
Where to stay near Yosemite
There are great options for lodging near Yosemite National Park. We are huge fans of staying in Oakhurst, California and entering the park from the southern entrance.
A few of our favorite places to stay in Oakhurst include:
Chateau du Sureau
The Pines Resort at Bass Lake
Sierra Sky Ranch
Hounds Tooth Inn
Best Western Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn - At Best Western Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn, you can look forward to a terrace, a playground, and laundry facilities. For some rest and relaxation, visit the 2 hot tubs. The onsite restaurant, Yosemite Gateway, features American cuisine. Free Wi-Fi in public areas is available to all guests, along with a bar and a gym.
Yosemite Southgate Hotel & Suites - At Yosemite Southgate Hotel & Suites, you can look forward to free continental breakfast, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour business center. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna or the steam room. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.
Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite - 4-star eco-friendly resort near Yosemite. You can look forward to a poolside bar, a terrace, and shopping on site at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. Adventurous travelers may like the rock climbing, snowshoeing, and ice skating at this resort. Indulge in a deep-tissue massage, a body treatment, and aromatherapy at Ascent Spa, the onsite spa. Enjoy pizza and more at the two onsite restaurants. Enjoy the gym, as well as activities like mountain biking and archery. In addition to a coffee shop/café and a garden, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Rush Creek Lodge - 3.5-star family-friendly hotel near Yosemite. Take advantage of a poolside bar, a grocery/convenience store, and a terrace at Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite. Adventurous travelers may like the mountain biking and ecotours at this hotel. For some rest and relaxation, visit the 2 hot tubs. The onsite restaurant, Rush Creek Restaurant, features local cuisine. In addition to a coffee shop/café and a garden, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Yosemite Sierra Inn - Yosemite Sierra Inn provides a business center and more. Stay connected with free Wi-Fi in public areas.
Queen's Inn By the River - Enjoy visiting the attached winery, a terrace, and a garden at Queen's Inn By the River. The onsite restaurant, Idle Hour Winery &Kitchen, features garden views and brunch. Stay connected with free Wi-Fi in public areas, and guests can find other amenities such as 2 bars.
For additional lodging options click on the map below for current rates and availability for lodging and vacation rentals near Yosemite NP.
Yosemite Campgrounds
All four campgrounds in the Yosemite Valley including North Pines Campground, Upper Pines Campground, Lower Pines Campground, and Camp 4. The Wawona Campground at the parks' South entrance is also open Year-round. The Hodgdon Meadow Campground is also open year-round for tent and RV camping at the parks Oak Flat Entrance.
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
I hope this article inspires several people to experience the Bracebridge Dinner. It is a truly magical event that happens each December at Yosemite National Park and one of our favorite places to go for Christmas.
Additional Yosemite Resources
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - The grove is outside of the valley on Highway 41 next to the southern entrance to the park.
California National Parks - Check out all of the National Park sites you can visit while in California.
National Park Passport Books - Find out about this great way to track all of the national park sites you have visited.
Visit Yosemite Madera - The Yosemite Madera visitor center is located in the heart of Oakhurst, California. They have great volunteers that can answer a ton of questions for you before you get to the park.
Check out our ultimate Yosemite NP Planning guide with all the information you need to plan a great trip.
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
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