About this Event
Step into a storybook Christmas and experience an afternoon of English tradition, timeless elegance, and a touch of royal holiday magic.
Treat yourself and someone special to a one-of-a-kind Nutcracker themed Christmas Royal Tea in the elegant Georgian Room at Wakefield-Scearce Galleries, located within historic Science Hill in the heart of downtown Shelbyville, Kentucky.
From the moment you enter this hidden Kentucky treasure, you’ll feel as though you have stepped back in time. The historic galleries are beautifully transformed for Christmas with festive music, twinkling holiday décor, and rooms filled with an extraordinary collection of English antiques, fine furnishings, silver, and decorative treasures.
Your experience begins in the courtyard, where guests will check in and be welcomed with sparkling spiritless botanical tea served in champagne flutes. At 12:00 pm, guests will be invited into the beautiful Georgian Room for a traditional English afternoon tea.
Specially selected seasonal premium loose-leaf teas will be served in beautiful vintage china teacups alongside an elegant three-tiered presentation featuring delicate tea sandwiches and savories, freshly baked scones with rich clotted cream and preserves, and a tempting selection of sweets—including Elegant Life’s signature “bourbon-less” bourbon ball.
Never experienced a traditional afternoon tea? No problem—it’s part of the fun!
Lisa Board of Elegant Life will provide a brief and entertaining introduction to the history, traditions, and etiquette of English tea service, making the afternoon equally enjoyable for seasoned tea lovers and first-time guests.
While dining, you’ll also discover some of the fascinating history of Science Hill, the historic girls’ school established in the early 1800s that once occupied this remarkable Shelbyville landmark.
🎄 Come Early & Make a Day of It
Part of the magic of this experience is exploring Wakefield-Scearce at Christmastime. We encourage guests to arrive early and wander through the beautifully decorated gallery rooms before tea.
Browse the antiques and specialty shops, discover unique treasures available for purchase, and take advantage of the stunning historic surroundings for Christmas photographs with someone special.
Festive holiday attire, hats, and fascinators are encouraged, making this a wonderful occasion to dress up and celebrate the season.
The galleries and shops will remain open to the public until 4:00 p.m.
🎁 Give a Memory Instead of Another Thing
A ticket to the Nutcracker Christmas Royal Afternoon Tea makes a beautiful experiential gift—an afternoon to anticipate, enjoy together, photograph, and remember long after Christmas is over.
Whether you surprise your mother, daughter, sister, best friend, sweetheart—or purchase tickets for your entire holiday group—you’re giving something increasingly precious: time together and a shared Christmas memory.
🤍 Gratuity is included in the ticket price, so there is nothing more to add—simply arrive, relax, and enjoy your Royal Christmas experience.
*Guests will be seated together to fill tables of 4, 6 or 8. All general tickets purchased on the same order will be seated together. If you would like to be seated with others who purchased tickets on a different order, please give their name when purchasing tickets or contact Kimberly at [email protected].
Tickets are non-refundable, but we understand that life can be unpredictable. If you are unable to attend, you can transfer your tickets to someone else. Lastly, your attendance at any of our signature events support our mission to educate, reduce stigma, and provide addiction recovery programs for our community. We hope you will make memories and celebrate this holiday season with us.
Event venue & nearby stays
Wakefield-Scearce Gallery, 525 Washington St., Shelbyville, United States
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