On Sunday, Old Pasadena’s Castle Green transforms into a living postcard of California’s golden era. The 2025 Castle Green Holiday Tour—set for December 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.—invites visitors to wander through one of the region’s most storied landmarks, a Moorish, Spanish Colonial, and Victorian fantasy that has stood for 126 years.
Normally closed to the public, Castle Green opens its doors only twice a year. This holiday tradition offers rare access to more than 20 private condominiums, the penthouse, and historic gathering spaces including the Moorish Room, Turkish Room, Grand Salon, Palm Court/Sunroom, and Ballroom. Guests can stroll the veranda, cross the famed pedestrian bridge, and admire gardens that once welcomed Pasadena’s wintering elite.
The atmosphere is festive and relaxed. A self‑guided format lets you explore at your own pace, accompanied by live piano music, a photo booth, and lawn games (weather permitting). Carol singers and a DJ are mentioned in some sources, adding extra cheer. Bite‑sized holiday snacks and refreshments are provided by a preferred caterer, while supplies last.
Tickets are available via Eventbrite and castlegreen.com: $65.87 in advance online or $70 at the gate (subject to availability). Altadena residents can email events@castlegreen.com to receive a discount code—a gesture of solidarity following the devastating Eaton Fire earlier this year.
Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Castle Green, a nonprofit formed in 1993 that funds restoration projects. Recent work includes the $30,000 restoration of the pedestrian bridge dome, which revealed copper beneath its surface, and the revival of ornate rooms once painted stark white back to their full polychromatic glory.
Castle Green sits at 99 S. Raymond Avenue in Old Pasadena, with nearby parking at the School House Parking Structure and Del Mar Station Parking, plus Metro access at Del Mar Station.
For architecture lovers, history buffs, or anyone craving holiday charm, this tour is more than an event—it’s a step back into Pasadena’s gilded past, wrapped in festive spirit.
The 2025 Castle Green Holiday Tour takes place on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Castle Green, 99 S. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105 in Old Pasadena. Tickets are $65.87 in advance online through Eventbrite or castlegreen.com and $70 at the gate, with a limited number of discounted tickets reserved for Altadena residents (available by emailing events@castlegreen.com). Parking is available nearby at the School House Parking Structure, 33 E. Green Street, and the Del Mar Station Parking, 230 S. Raymond Avenue; Metro riders can use the adjacent Del Mar Station. For more information, call (626) 793‑0359 or visit castlegreen.com.
