The house is open for tours with games, music and refreshments, all outdoors in the garden. Children are treated to ice cream and other sweet surprises. There is a hat making table, a go-fishing game and lots of other activities for the young at heart. Chairs are scattered on the lawn as live musicians perform throughout the afternoon.

Live musicians perform holiday favorites and Christmas carols with intermittent performances on the 1819 Geib pianoforte, located in the music room. Home-baked sweets and savories are provided by the Friends of Haywood Hall for guests. There are docents in every room to provide historical information about the house and the Haywood Hall collection of furnishings, paintings, portraits and antique dolls.

The house is decorated with natural materials including magnolia, holly, evergreen garlands and the fruits and nuts that would have been available in the nineteenth century. A live Christmas tree in the parlour is trimmed with period decorations with antique toys and packages at the base.

Treasurer John Haywood was known as a good and generous host during his lifetime. The Haywood Hall Christmas Open House is a reflection of that hospitality of long ago.