Hearst Castle prepares for annual Holiday Twilight Tour

Located on a historic estate in San Simeon, Hearst Castle is a well-known destination on the central coast. Each year, the castle’s seasonal Holiday Twilight Tour gives guests a chance to see the castle lit up with lights, Christmas trees and other decor at night. 

Holiday decorations are in every room along the Grand Rooms Tour of the castle which includes the assembly, refectory, billiard and the morning room. 

The seasonal grandeur preparations started weeks before the holiday season. Decor is taken out, cleaned and put together in time for tours starting on the day after Thanksgiving. 

“We just want to make sure to give ourselves plenty of time because it is a very time consuming process.” Jenny Daly, the Museum Curator said. “We have our whole team working on it every day.”

Daly says each year the decor remains the same to keep with the traditions that make the castle what it is.

“I think the whole thing about this place is that there’s a strong sense of tradition and there’s a lot of doing things the same as they were done before,” Daly said.

Cal Poly history department student intern Conner Phillips at Hearst Castle was in charge of setting up trees and lights in parts of the refectory. This included the musician’s loft, where a musician would sit and play to guests as they ate dinner. 

Cal Poly history department student intern Conner Phillips at Hearst Castle was in charge of setting up trees and lights in parts of the refectory. This included the musician’s loft, where a musician would sit and play to guests as they ate dinner. 

Phillips has had a behind the scenes look at the set up in multiple parts of the castle, but credits the assembly room as his favorite part.

“It’s just by far the most impressive. The scale of the trees when you walk in are incredibly striking, so I feel like nothing really compares to that.” Phillips said. “But I do really appreciate the way that the refectory has been decorated. I think that you don’t normally see the trees up above you as much so I think that is something really special.” 

The Hearst Castle Holiday Twilight Tours will continue through December 30.