Trinkaus Manor Christmas Lights History Talk in Rome, Wed. Nov. 18 (Free)
Hear the story behind the Trinkaus lights 80 years after the first display, then go see them yourself in Gansevoort and Veterans parks.
A free talk on the history of Trinkaus Manor and its holiday lights is Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Rome Historical Society, 200 Church St. in Rome. It's free and open to the public, according to the Rome Sentinel.
Who's speaking: Alexis Albright, curator of the Oriskany Museum, and James Mathy, who helps care for and restore the lights.
Why now: 2026 marks 80 years since the manor's first holiday display in 1946. Run by the four Trinkaus brothers, all World War II veterans, the Oriskany restaurant lit up the season every year until a 1992 fire destroyed it.
See the lights after: Much of the display went to the city of Rome after the fire. Most of it now stands in Gansevoort and Veterans parks along North James Street, and a "Merry Christmas" sign sits near Erie Boulevard East and East Whitesboro Street.
| When | Wed., Nov. 18, 2026, 6:30 p.m. |
| Where | Rome Historical Society, 200 Church St., Rome |
| Cost | Free |
| Registration | None mentioned |
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