Christmas at Rugby, a unique 1880 Victorian experience for families
By Jeaneane Payne
December 8, 2023

Plus holiday concert from Knoxville singer/songwriter Mike McGill

Christmas at Rugby; courtesy of Historic Rugby

RUGBY, TN – On Saturday, December 9th, visitors to Historic Rugby are traveling back in time to experience Christmas in 1880, the year the village was settled by a plucky group of British colonists.

During the annual Christmas at Rugby event on December 9th, visitors wander through the village and listen to Victorian-era holiday carolers, savor hot drinks and cookies in Rugby’s festively decorated historic buildings, ride in a horse-drawn carriage, hear stories of holidays past from interpreters dressed in period costume, enjoy a visit from Father Christmas, tour private homes, and shop for handmade gifts from local artisans. A food truck is also on site, offering delicious hot food and drinks to revelers. Hours for the event are 11 am until 8 pm Eastern.

Historic Rugby’s annual Christmas Victorian Dinner takes place during the Christmas at Rugby event in Hester Hall at 6:30 pm Eastern. Organizer JoNell Hester says it will be a holiday feast to remember. “Our guests will be served a five-course meal that starts off with champagne punch and is followed by bourbon brie bites, chopped green salad with craisins, blue cheese, and citrus vinaigrette dressing, ginger carrot soup, tender petite beef filet with mashed potatoes, our famous Harrow Road Cafe dinner rolls, and decadent chocolate cake,” she says.

Christmas at Rugby, Lessons & Carols; courtesy of Historic Rugby

In addition to these ticketed events, beloved Knoxville singer-songwriter Mike McGill and friends are playing a Christmas concert in Rugby’s Visitor Centre theater at 8 pm Eastern. The concert is free to those who've attended Christmas at Rugby and/or the Victorian dinner. He’ll include holiday tunes from favorite artists like Merle Haggard, Chubby Checker, Elvis Presley, Tony Bennett, and more. “Mike McGill’s annual concerts in Rugby are a favorite with the locals around here,” says Historic Rugby board member Tony Woodall, “as well as fans who travel to our village just to see him perform. You don’t want to miss it.”

Finally, Christ Church Episcopal will present a seasonal worship service of Lessons & Carols with an emphasis on music at 4:30 pm Eastern in Historic Rugby’s Christ Church. Tickets are not required to this event. It’s a great opportunity to attend a service in the church, which is virtually unchanged from when it was built in 1887.

Full Event Schedule:

• Tours of the Village's historic buildings and select homes
• Doug's Nearly Famous BBQ food truck (vegetarian options available)
• Horse & Carriage Rides
• Lessons & Carols at Christ Church Episcopal
• Mike McGill in concert at the Rebecca Johnson Theatre (in the Visitor Centre)

Rugby, Tennessee was founded in 1880 as a British colony. It’s adjacent to the Big South Fork National Recreation Area and is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Nashville and a little over an hour away from Knoxville. Overnight lodging is available at www.historicrugby.org.