<p id=”par-1_101″>Over the course of seven seasons, <em>Gilmore Girls</em> provided fans with <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/gilmore-girls-holiday-episodes-full-list.html/”>a lot of lovely holiday moments</a>. While the series paid special attention to Thanksgiving, the writers weren’t against a Christmas episode either. There were several during the show’s run, but one of the most beloved holiday episodes isn’t exactly Christmas-specific; it is simply winter-coded. “The Bracebridge Dinner,” a season two winter episode, remains one of the most beloved holiday episodes of the show’s entire run. That got us wondering, is the Bracebridge Dinner a real event? As it turns out, it is, and you can still take part in it.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-the-bracebridge-dinner-is-real”>The Bracebridge Dinner is real</h2>
<p id=”par-2_84″>In the season 2 episode titled “The Bracebridge Dinner,” Sookie St. James spends weeks at <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/gilmore-girls-fans-discover-a-plot-hole-regarding-the-dragonfly-inn.html/”>the Independence Inn</a> preparing for a holiday event paid for by a group of travelers. At the last minute, Loreial and Sookie learn the group will not be arriving at the quaint Connecticut inn. Inclement weather stranded them far from Stars Hollow. To make the most of Sookie’s feast, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/everything-wrong-with-the-beloved-town-of-stars-hollow.html/”>the town of Stars Hollow </a>gathers to enjoy the food and the show that comes along with the iconic dinner.</p>
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<p id=”par-3_78″>Such an elaborate event seems like something that could have been made up for <em>Gilmore Girls, </em>but it wasn’t. The Bracebridge Dinner is actually a very real event with a very long history. The real-life Bracebridge Dinner is a holiday tradition in Yosemite. Held each December in the Ahwahnee Hotel’s grand dining room, the dinner is inspired by Washington Irving’s work, <em>The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.</em> An actor even plays Squire Bracebridge from the book. </p>
<p id=”par-4_47″>Diners enjoy a seven-course Christmas meal and a show. The entire event aims to transport diners back to an English manor Christmas. 2025 is the dinner’s 98th year. The first Bracebridge Dinner was held in December 1927, when the hotel was operating under a completely different name.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-how-much-does-it-cost”>How much does it cost?</h2>
<p id=”par-5_51″>While Lorelai, Sookie, and the town of Stars Hollow enjoyed their Bracebridge dinner free of charge thanks to a snowstorm and a plethora of already paid-for food, those who wish to enjoy the dinner in real life won’t be so lucky. The multi-course meal comes with a pretty steep price tag.</p>
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<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
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‘Gilmore Girls’: A Fan Theory Suggests Sookie and Lorelai Were Arsonists </a>
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<p id=”par-6_48″>According to the<a href=”https://www.yosemite.com/event/the-bracebridge-dinner-at-yosemite/2025-12-20/”> official Yosemite website</a>, the dinner, which runs from 6-10 pm, will cost each individual $537.10. Children under 12 are welcome to attend at a reduced rate of $368.05. The price includes a full seven-course dinner. Lodging is also available for travelers at an additional cost.</p>