Nutcracker in the Castle 2019 Photo Gallery

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! Visiting the Nutcracker in the Castle at the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is becoming a yearly tradition for my family and me.

Each room of this historic estate is transformed into scenes from the Nutcracker fairy tale and it is absolutely beautiful. If you’re in the Oshkosh area, this is worth an hour of your time to visit! (The exhibit runs from November 22, 2019, to January 6, 2020.)

Last year I had shared a photo gallery of some of the rooms as well. However, for this year, I wanted to share a few shots and rooms that I wasn’t able to get last year due to there being so many people the day I was there! I went yesterday (Monday) to enjoy the exhibit, and there were far fewer people.

So, for this post, I’m sharing 25 of my favorite photos from the exhibit this year. Enjoy, and have a very Merry Christmas, everyone!

There are three different ways to visit and enjoy the Nutcracker in the Castle at the Paine Art Center. Guests may take Self-guided Tours, Candlelight Tours, and Guided Tours, with each style of tour offered at separate times.

25 Photos of Nutcracker in the Castle at the Paine Art Center

A long hallway with vaulted ceilings. The room is lined with brightly lit and decorated Christmas trees. At the end of the hallway is an ornate round stained glass window.

A dimly-lit sitting room with a vintage chaise lounge chair next to a decorated Christmas tree and a dressing screen. A large picture window in the back flows light into the warm room.

A large storybook is opened, depicting original drawings from The Nutcracker Christmas story. In the background is an elaborate private library with walls of bookshelves, statues, and art. Large Christmas trees stand decorated and lit throughout the room. — Each room in The Paine depicts a scene from the classic tale of The Nutcracker.

An elegant room with a fireplace and large Christmas tree, decorated with lights and ornaments, inside The Paine Art Center's Nutcracker in the Castle event.

A tall Christmas tree framed in a doorway, lit with lights and large, decorative ornaments.

A closeup look at some of the exquisite ornaments on the Christmas trees displayed at the Paine Art Center's Nutcracker in the Castle event in Oshkosh, WI.

Another elegant sitting room filled with antique furniture and two large decorated Christmas trees. Sheet music rests on a music stand, next to a chair with a violin propped up next to it.

An elegant dining room scene as depicted in the Nutcracker. The room features a long dining table filled with many sweets - candies, cakes, and desserts, including a five-tiered cake decorated like a Nutcracker. Three large trees stand in each corner of the room, and a large storybook is opened on a pedestal, showing the depicted scene from the story.

Another view of the Nutcracker dining room, showing a long dining table filled with cakes, desserts, and candies.

Two small Nutcracker dolls sit on a table next to wooden doll pieces and wood-carving tools.

Another scene from The Nutcracker depicted in an elegant sitting room with a themed Christmas tree decorated with colorful ornaments and lights. The Nutcracker storybook is open on a pedestal in the forefront of the image.

A staircase inside the Paine art center and an elegant hanging chandelier.

A 6-foot fall Nutcracker statue stands next to a decorated Christmas tree in an alcove inside the Paine Art Center's Nutcracker in the Castle exhibition.

A long hallway with vaulted ceilings and arched doorways, lined with lit and decorated Christmas trees. Antique chandeliers and sconces cast dim, warm light on the walls and floors.

A large storybook is open to a scene in the Nutcracker. The room behind it is vast with a large, open space in the center of the room, meant to symbolize and ice skating rink. The back wall is lined with decorated Christmas trees, while another wall is lined with wooden chairs.

Another scene from the ice skating room at Paine Art Center's Nutcracker in the Castle display. Paper umbrellas hanging from the ceiling next to brightly-list Christmas trees.

A large Christmas tree decorated with ornate ornaments and lights, stands in front of a large window.

A closeup image of a Nutcracker themed Christmas tree with lights, ornaments, and reindeer antlers.

Little mice are scattered throughout every room in the Paine Art Center's Nutcracker in the Castle exhibit. — See how many mice you can find in each room!

A giant Christmas tree is filled with lights and ornaments in a dark room. Boxes of wrapped Christmas presents surround the tree.

Another tall Christmas tree draped in lights, ornaments, and ribbons in a dark room, with warm light coming from a sconce on the wall.

A large Christmas tree stands in front of a window beaming natural light into a bright room. The tree is decorated with white flowers, gold ornaments, and green garlands.

A chandelier hanging from a tall ceiling. Off to the side, a hallway is lined with decorated Christmas trees.

A look inside a dark, warmly lit room inside the Paine Art Center. A storybook is open on a table; behind it, a scene from the Nutcracker -- round tables set for dinner, and a large, bright Christmas tree in the back of the room.

A large room is filled with brightly lit Christmas trees. Nutcracker statues stand on either side of the entrance to the room.

Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cupcake Cafe (located behind the Paine property)

The Sugar Plum Fairy cupcake displayed in a glass dessert case.

Sugar Plum Fairy's Cupcake Cafe - a large room filled with cafe tables and chairs, located behind the Paine Art Center.

The Paine Gardens

Archways draped in vines of leaves, leading into the entrance to the Paine Art Center's exterior gardens.

The Paine Art Center's exterior gardens in the wintertime on a sunny day, with snow scattered on the ground, and trees with bare branches.

The exterior of the Paine Art Center -- a large three story castle-like building with a brick exterior.

A large banner hangs on a brick wall, advertising the Nutcracker in the Castle event at the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

A snowy, icy outdoor walkway leads down a path lined with trees towards the Paine Art Center.

Thank you for looking through my photo gallery of “Nutcracker in the Castle.” I hope you enjoyed it!

I also want to apologize to my regular readers – this is the longest I have taken off from blogging since I began. We had a death in our family, followed by me getting sick…and then the holidays started. Needless to say, the blog had to be put on hold for a little while. Once Christmas is over, I’ll be getting back into the swing of things, though. Thank you for your understanding, everyone.

*Thank you to the Paine Art Center for complimentary passes to this year’s exhibit. As always, all opinions are my own, and I am never compensated for a positive review. My family and I really love attending this yearly experience in Oshkosh!

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A room inside The Paine Art Center filled with brightly lit Christmas trees. Text above the image says, "25 Photos of Nutcracker in the Castle" and "Paine Art Center in Oshkosh, WI'

6 Comments

Thanks for sharing these rich images. I thoroughly enjoyed combing through them. Sorry to hear of the recent rough patch in your life. Wishing you better days ahead.