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Visitors can wander through the beautifully adorned Italianate mansion, located at 440 N. Jackson St., enjoying the lit trees, through Dec. 28.

On Tuesday, during a sneak preview of the Rock County Historical Society’s annual Holiday Tree Show, a neon-bright 1980s-themed tree dripped in tinsel, a Star Wars tree was decorated with film memorabilia, and trees were decorated simply in company colors or deeply personal tributes.

Some decorators leaned into elaborate themes, while others embraced minimalism. Together tthey transformed the Victorian mansion into a shimmering holiday wonderland.

Presented by Blackhawk Community Credit Union, the Holiday Tree Show features more than 100 decorated trees throughout the main and upper floors of the historic home. This year also marks a return of the towering 20-foot tree rising through the mansion’s elliptical opening to the second floor.

“We skipped a year, but this year it’s back in the central position,” said Catherine Barton, the historical society’s board secretary and longtime Holiday Tree Show volunteer. “This half is decorated by our main sponsor, Blackhawk Community Credit Union, and the other half is decorated by Amy McCann of McCann Floors as a memory tree,” which is filled with submitted photos of people’s loved ones.

The show includes a scavenger hunt and holiday activity booklets for kids, and each room surrounds guests with the glow of twinkling lights. Beyond the main house, the event has expanded into the Tallman Carriage House, which now hosts Santa and Mrs. Claus, festive beverages, and multiple themed photo ops.

“This year we have an uptick in memorial trees,” said Kris Mathesius, who helps coordinate the show. “This is a place of remembrance, and a lot of people are celebrating together and remembering loved ones. Families come in and decorate trees together, sharing collections or memories. It’s tremendous.”

Barton said the variety of tree decorators and community contributors is part of what makes the event special.

“We have such a range of sponsors, from larger corporations to a single person who wants to decorate a tree in remembrance of somebody. I love the community feel of it,” she said, of the event that is one of the historical society’s biggest annual fundraisers.

Many sponsors return year after year, often expanding their displays over time. Mathesisus said some began small in the past and just keep getting bigger each year.

Sarah Hodge, who sponsored and decorated three trees this year, said she chooses her designs based on personality, heritage, and whatever creative materials she can find.

“They’re Irish and they love anything green, so I did their tree in all greens,” Hodge explained while pointing out a green and gold tree she decorated. “Our family are farmers, so our tree is green and gold — like the harvest, our crops, and everything we work for.”

Hodge said she doesn’t follow strict rules when decorating; she just goes with her gut.

“Sometimes it’s just what you can get your hands on,” she said. “You look at a pile of green ribbon and think, okay, we’ll make that work.”

Though she doesn’t work professionally as a designer, creativity is second nature for her.

“I’m an art teacher, so I guess I’m kind of crafty by default,” she said. “This is just fun for me, and it’s such a great event for the community.”

This year marks her fifth or sixth time participating in the Holiday Tree Show, and she said the experience never gets old.

“All the trees are so beautiful,” she said. “Everyone brings something different.”

Carriage House

Visitors may continue the fun outdoors by strolling to the Carriage House for refreshments, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, played this year by longtime volunteers Kathy and Tom Boguszewski, and several creative photo stations.

“There’s an antique sleigh made in Janesville that people can sit in, and a beautiful, colorful wreath people can pose behind,” Barton said.

Mathesius said the event feels like a true snapshot of Janesville.

“Visitors are very likely to recognize a friend, a neighbor or a business they know. That’s exciting for people to discover.”

And for families who may not be able to walk through the full show, Barton emphasized that photos with Santa are free. “If people can’t come in to see the whole tree show, they can still take their picture with Santa at no charge. That’s important to us.”

This year, the Holiday Tree Show is partnering with the Rotary Botanical Gardens’ Holiday Light Show. People who buy advance tickets to the Tree Show receive a special discount for the Rotary Gardens’ event, encouraging visitors to enjoy two of Janesville’s biggest seasonal attractions while supporting two local nonprofits.

Holiday Tree Show dates at the Lincoln-Tallman House are Thursday through Sunday in December, from 3–7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Lincoln-Tallman House will be closed Christmas Day. Tickets are $15 for teens and adults online, $18 at the door, and $5 for children ages 3–12. Children 2 and under are free.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit .