"Mrs. Washington" hosts an enchanting evening of candlelit tours, fireside Christmas caroling, and hot cider and ginger cookies. A newly-formatted tour includes the first and second floors, featuring characters from the Washingtons' world guiding visitors through the home and adding ambiance and authenticity to a traditional Christmas evening at Mount Vernon. "Mount Vernon by Candlelight" is the only time of year when the estate is open to the public for special evening tours. Mount Vernon's modern buildings include merry music and the opportunity for holiday shopping until 9 p.m. $18 for adults, $12 for youth. Tickets are available at Mount Vernon's Ford Orientation Center or at MountVernon.org starting November 1.