The Stone House at Deering Estate has walls of reinforced concrete 18 to 24 inches thick, faced in limestone so it would look like a centuries-old Spanish fortress. The roof is handmade Cuban barrel clay tile. Right now those tiles are coming off one at a time. Each one is documented and kept for future display.
The house has been closed to the public since Monday, April 28, 2025. That means the 2026 holiday season at Deering Estate is being staged somewhere else. It happens in the smaller Richmond Cottage, on the lawn by the water, and on a catamaran out in Biscayne Bay. Back in the village, the busiest holiday-season evening on the official calendar is the Thursday-night market at Palmetto Bay Park, not a tree lighting. Those few places carry most of this season's plans.
The house that sits this season out
Charles Deering signed the construction agreement for the Stone House on June 13, 1922. The architect was Phineas E. Paist, who had worked on Vizcaya and later became Supervisor of Color for the Coral Gables Corporation. Building it took just eleven months, and the 13,900-square-foot Mediterranean Revival house was finished in early 1923.
The current project is a full restoration of every interior and exterior architectural and structural element. It covers re-roofing, repairs to all doors, windows, shutters and screens, a new air conditioning unit on the third floor, and electrical and HVAC repairs. The team includes R.J. Heisenbottle Architects, HB Construction, Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, and the Miami-Dade County Office of Historic Preservation.
The estate's Stone House Restoration Project page has the scope and the team. The listing for this season's evening holiday tour carries a note that the Stone House is closed for restoration, and the rest of the estate is open.
Richmond Cottage gets the décor
This year's holiday theme is "Tides & Tidings." The estate says it draws on Charles Deering's love of seafaring and of Biscayne Bay, with nautical, ocean-inspired décor. The decorated interiors are in the historic Richmond Cottage.
The daytime décor is listed from November 27 through January 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with admission of $10 to $18. The evening version adds the bay.
The Holiday House Tour & Campfire runs on three nights: Tuesday, December 8; Wednesday, December 16; and Tuesday, December 22. Hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m., and tickets are $20. Here is how the night works, according to the estate:
- Arrive any time between 5:30 and 8 p.m.
- Your ticket time applies only to the house tour. Tour introductions start at 6, 7 and 8 p.m.
- After a short orientation, you walk through Richmond Cottage at your own pace. Staff are on both floors to answer questions.
- Before or after the tour, you can sit at the campfire overlooking Biscayne Bay. Marshmallows are free.
Tour capacity may be limited, so you pick a tour time when you buy. Deering Estate Foundation members get 10% off with a promo code from the Foundation, and tickets are sold through Park Link. If you're bringing guests, the 8 p.m. tour leaves time for the campfire first. Families with younger children may find the 6 p.m. slot an easier fit.
The bay is the other venue
Since the biggest building on the property is closed, more of the season happens outdoors and on the water.
On Sunday, December 13, the Holiday Bay Cruise leaves Deering Estate at 11 a.m. aboard the Pelican Skipper, a 45-foot Corinthian catamaran. It returns at 1 p.m., and the price is $65. For anyone who lives a few minutes from the estate, it's a two-hour look at the bay from the water, where the village's shoreline looks different.
The big daytime gathering is Tides & Tidings: Holiday by the Bay on Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plans include Santa photos and storytime, a holiday market, crafts, games and food vendors. Story-Time and Photos with Santa is listed for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day. If the photo is the main reason you're going, arrive in the morning. Tickets for both are listed at $10 to $18.
The estate's gift shop is in the Visitor Center. It joins Museum Store Sunday on November 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The national shopping day supports cultural institutions, and this year more than 2,250 museum stores are taking part. It falls on the same weekend the "Tides & Tidings" décor opens, so you can do both on one visit.
The formal night is the Deering Estate Foundation's 9th annual Mistletoe & Martinis on Friday, December 11, from 7:30 to 11 p.m. This year's theme is "Starfish Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses," and tickets range from $175 to $1,800.
Thursdays already have a plan
Inland, the village's own calendar runs to a weekly beat. Sunset Eats Night Market sets up every Thursday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Palmetto Bay Park, 17535 SW 95th Avenue, with local food and live music.
That includes this evening, Thursday, November 12. The village calendar also lists it on Thanksgiving, November 26. In December it continues on December 3, 10 and 17. Check the Village of Palmetto Bay calendar before the last two Thursdays of the year.
In December, Thursdays mean the market at Palmetto Bay Park. December 8, 16 and 22 mean the campfire at Deering. The Wednesday the 16th tour comes the night before the December 17 market. A household could fit in the cottage tour, the campfire and a market dinner on back-to-back nights without leaving the village.
Sunday the 15th at Coral Reef Park
The first big weekend of the season belongs to the village. The Dottie Barton Harvest Festival and America's 250 Celebration takes over Coral Reef Park, 7895 SW 152nd Street, on Sunday, November 15, from noon to 3 p.m.
This is the third annual Dottie Barton Fall Festival. The village lists bounce houses and a fall photo spot. The Palmetto Bay Farmer's Market runs alongside it from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the America's 250 celebration adds a live band and a pop-up museum. If you get there at 10 a.m., you can shop the market for two hours before the festival opens.
Deering Estate's listing for the Richmond Cottage evening tour invites guests to:
"Explore the beautifully decorated historic interiors, discover the unique architecture and history of the estate, and immerse yourself in the festive spirit of the season."
The season on one page
| Date | Event | Where | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursdays through Dec 17 | Sunset Eats Night Market | Palmetto Bay Park, 17535 SW 95th Ave | 5:30–9:30 p.m. | Not listed |
| Sun, Nov 15 | Dottie Barton Harvest Festival + America's 250 Celebration | Coral Reef Park, 7895 SW 152nd St | Noon–3 p.m.; market 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | Not listed |
| Nov 27–Jan 6 | "Tides & Tidings" holiday décor | Deering Estate, 16701 SW 72nd Ave | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | $10–$18 |
| Sun, Nov 29 | Museum Store Sunday | Deering Estate Visitor Center | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Not listed |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Tides & Tidings: Holiday by the Bay | Deering Estate | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Santa 10 a.m.–1 p.m. | $10–$18 |
| Dec 8, 16, 22 | Holiday House Tour & Campfire | Richmond Cottage, Deering Estate | 5:30–9 p.m. | $20 |
| Fri, Dec 11 | Mistletoe & Martinis | Deering Estate | 7:30–11 p.m. | $175–$1,800 |
| Sun, Dec 13 | Holiday Bay Cruise, Pelican Skipper | Departs Deering Estate | 11 a.m.–1 p.m. | $65 |
If you have errands at the village's own offices, plan around the holidays. Village Hall at 9705 East Hibiscus Street closes at 12:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve and is closed on Christmas Day. The "Tides & Tidings" décor stays up at Deering Estate through January 6.
At Azua Nardon Team, Palmetto Bay is home turf, and the holidays are when we hear most often from neighbors who are thinking about the year ahead. If you're wondering what your home would be worth before January, request a free home valuation. We're happy to talk it through over a marshmallow at the campfire or a plate at Thursday's market.
