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Indulging at the holidays

At old-fashioned feasts, eat like a king or tycoon.

If you're in the mood to loosen belts as well as wallets, the holidays are the time to do it.

At madrigal dinners, channel portly Henry VIII in a Tudor castle settling. During Dickens dinners, wallow in 19th century England — the England of "A Christmas Carol,'' not "Oliver Twist.''

Which is to say, there's no gruel course.

During the holidays, dinners at mansions built by early entrepreneurs — Capt. Frederick Pabst in Milwaukee, Chester Congdon in Duluth — are as sumptuous as the decor. But the frontier folk feasted, too; at Old World Wisconsin, guests will dine on delicacies favored by Irish immigrants.

Here are some of the best holiday feasts in 2012; reserve early.

And for tours of decorated mansions, see Homes for the holidays.

"Fezziwig's Feast" in St. Paul. Diners are entertained by members of the Actors Theater of Minnesota on three stages of Wigington Hall Pavilion on Harriet Island, with live music.

Dec. 1-2 and 8-9, Russian Holiday Dinner at Old World Wisconsin in southeast Wisconsin. A traditional celebration of dinner, music and dancing at this 576-acre complex of 10 ethnic pioneer farmsteads, which celebrates a different ethnic group at each year's holiday celebrations. Reserve early.

For more, see In search of Christmas past.

Dec. 8-9 and 15-16, Holiday Brunches at Glensheen Mansion in Duluth. Tours of Chester Congdon's mansion on Lake Superior, decorated for the holidays, are followed by brunch and a wassail toast.

For more, see Duluth's grand mansion.

Dec. 7-9, 14-16, 19-20 and 22, Dickens Dinners at the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee. It's a traditional English feast, with Charles Dickens reading from "A Christmas Carol.'' Reserve by calling Bartolotta's at 414-727-6980; for Pabst Mansion details, 414-931-0808.

People who visit Old World Wisconsin or the Pabst Mansion get admission to the other site free.

For more, see Milwaukee at Christmas.

Last updated on October 30, 2012