TIM’S TOP 6 of 56
In under a week from now we’ll all be in Memphis celebrating 50 years of this fantastic company, Department 56. There’s a lot of stress, even more excitement, and an undeniable energy of being part of something so momentous.
I am looking forward to seeing so many of you at the celebration! We’ve worked so hard with the incredible NCC Executive Board these past months to ensure a memorable event, and though I’m excited about so much of what we’ve planned, what I’m eager for the most sharing our entire 2026 lineup in person. It’s like Christmas for me: waiting for you to see the lineup is like watching you open your presents! Will you get what you wanted? Will you love them? Or – and it happens - did we deliver the equivalent of a lump of coal?
You cannot have a party without a present! But truth be told, I stopped giving presents in the traditional sense years ago. I’m not a Scrooge … I still give gifts, but nowadays they’re “Oprah style”. When my siblings and I were younger, gift giving always seemed easier. But as the kids grew and our homes filled, finding the right present became more difficult with each passing season. So, one year I decided to do what Oprah does and gave generous baskets brimming with some of the things that I loved most that year. The Frazier Fir candle that filled my home with wonderful Christmastime scent, the delicious pasta sauce I swear I ate every week, the scarves a Scottish farmer wove using wool from her own sheep - my gift to them was a tangible scrapbook of the things that brought me joy in hopes they would experience the same.
The tradition has become a staple in my family, as it's such fun each holiday as we share the things that brought us joy. And our 2026 lineup is very much the same for us at Department 56. The pieces have brought us joy, and now as we debut them as our gift to you, we hope the designs and the origins behind them bridge the distance between all of us and help you feel the love we have for Villaging and for all of you!
One week out, and in advance of you seeing the designs, I wanted to give you a sneak peek that may become an annual tradition for my blog: Tim’s Top 6 of 56. You are all bound to have your favorite introductions, but below are some of mine, along with some of stories that have made my choices so special to me:
6. 6018434 “CAN’T SEE THE LINE, CAN YOU RUSS?”
A few years back, we doubled down on creating scenes from the iconic National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation for The Original Snow Village. You've shown us that you love the pieces, so we have worked closely with Warner Bros. to continue to bring forward moments from the movie, including this year's release which commemorates one of the more tongue-in-cheek scenes from the film. For years, we were embargoed by the licensor to create this design, so we are thrilled to finally be able to bring it to you in this set of 2 pieces that features 3 figures.
Another embargoed design is slated to be released in 2027, along with a re-issue of one of the most requested lit houses (done differently than the original) to help complete another memorable scene!
5. 6018372 “PETE’S CRABBY CHRISTMAS”
This one has been a few years in the making. For loyal followers of my A Peek Inside blog, you will recall I mentioned Pete the Cat some time ago. We had brainstormed doing a piece that introduced one of Mickey Mouse's nemesis but had held off due to ill timing. But this year we couldn't resist in bringing Pete to our Mickey Mouse’s Christmas Village, and the detail that Master Artist Tom Bates worked into the design is exceptional, and a major reason why it made my Favorite Things list this year.
The part I like most about this lit house is what isn’t there. Keeping the underside of the dock open – like it is low tide – created a series of challenges when firing this porcelain design. But we believe the result well worth it, especially when displayed alongside 6013668 “DUCK THE HALLS” (Limited to Year of Production, 2024), 6014523 “DAISY’S DOCKSIDE CAFÉ” (Limited to Year of Production, 2025), and the new 6018374 “KEEPING A WATCH FOR SANTA”.
We had pipelined the story arc many years ago, and hope that you dedicated collectors were able to gather the other pieces of the story before they went away. But we’re bringing the seaside theme we’ve maintained for a few years landward in 2027, which I will explain more in my Pipeline Seminar next week in Memphis!
4. 6018402 HIGHLAND BIRCHES – S/2
This year we saw the rebrand of our cross product to Department 56 Village Supply. We wanted to lift the barriers of Christmas or Halloween branding to better fuel your imagination, especially as we delve deeper into Harvest and Christmas Canyon. Versatility is key, originality is critical, and having all the pieces under one umbrella better enables us to have amble options on the ready for your displays.
Trees being one of the most important elements of a display, I sought to create something with whim when I began noodling 6018402 HIGHLAND BIRCHES – S/2. I understood our traditional Birch Trees were made with fabric leaves and began to toy with the notion of printing the fabric before the leaves were cut out. Months of trial-and-error testing different design patterns and print scales delivered us at a fun set of trees with colorful plaid leaves. The designs fit perfectly alongside our new 6018301 CHRISTMAS LODGE, compliment 6018343 THE PERFECT GETAWAY nicely, and bring even more life to the adorable accessory sets 6018400 HIGHLAND ANIMALS – S/3 and 6018308 HIGHLAND CORGIS – S/2.
You will see a handful of new takes on Village Supply trees and accessories this year, all Pipelined in an over-arching storyline that will take us forward into new introductions through 2029!
3. 6014755 HOME ON THE RANGE
I’m not sure if it’s fair to list this Christmas Canyon gem as one of my Favorite Things this year considering it technically debuted last year. But as is sometimes the case when we have production issues, this piece was pushed forward from 2025 to 2026, but trust me when I tell you it is well worth the wait!
The genesis of this design by the incomparable Paul Lundberg manifested when I was in Arizona and saw homes decorated for Christmas. The sweltering sun overhead did not curtail the army of inflatable snowmen or Christmas lights dripping from balconies and eaves. The vibe of the holidays was present, even if snow was not. Even typing it makes me feel like a heel – of course not everyone has snow! – but in an instant, it was apparent that a large swath of Southern and Southwestern homes were underrepresented in our current Villages.
I am very much about inclusion in our lines and Christmas Canyon provided us with a vehicle to introduce influences from Amarillo to Palm Springs. All three inaugural lit houses are exceptional porcelain builds, but 6014755 HOME ON THE RANGE stands out to me because of its complex casting. There are nearly a dozen individual molds required to cast the design, including a handful of metal molds, each expertly fit, cleaned, and fired to create the finished piece you see at retail. It’s a true masterpiece of Village quality suitable for display all year, especially nestled amongst pots of succulents!
2. CATHERINE O’HARA
Four of our licensed introductions in 2026 have roots with the legendary Canadian-American actress and comedian, Catherine O’Hara. With a career as long as Department 56’s, she will be remembered for her roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, A Nightmare Before Christmas, and Schitt’s Creek.
Personally, her role as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek is one that will remain with me forever. Her humor, passion, and compassion resonate with me to the point that it felt heavy when I sent our condolences to the licensor after her passing in January. I did not know Catherine O’Hara personally, but her impact on what we’ve developed in Village is far beyond any other actor or actress in our history and will likely never be duplicated again. Four separate, successful lines all touched by one incredible actress is something worth celebrating. So, when you see 6018306 KEVIN’S TREE HOUSE, 6014763 BEETLEJUICE CEMETERY PLOT, 6018393 UP ON SPIRAL HILL, and 6015626 ROSE APOTHECARY this year, please pause and reflect on the incredible spirit that was, is, and always will be Catherine O’Hara.
1. 6018309 THE WESCOT and 6018310 PUPPYDOG TANGLE
You wouldn’t need to be psychic to predict my favorite launch this year if you know me or my pups at all! I approached Master Artist Tom Bates with the concept for The Wescot, along with an early, rough rendering of a grand, turn-of-the-century hotel. I wanted something with vertical height that would help bridge the gap between 6013400 THE GRIFFITH TOWER and the exceptional shops and restaurants of the Christmas in the City series. The stepdown design provides for a better skyline in displays and creates a beefier footprint befitting a city block.
Selfishly, the branding of The Wescot is my own, and was named in honor of my first Westie, Bailey, and my first Scottie, Chole: Westie + Scottie = Wescot. Though both have sadly passed, I carry fond memories of our travels together and the hotels we would stay in, especially when we would venture home for the holidays. When thinking about the branding of this luxe hotel, I could not get my Christmastime travels with Bailey and Chloe out of my mind, and the name stuck.
To honor its namesakes, I designed the billboard decal on the side of the Wescot, while our newest Village artist, Robb Miller, designed the figure, Puppydog Tangle, to portray the pups being walked by the bellhop, or perhaps the bellhop is being walked by them!
When you see The Wescot or Puppydog Tangle, my hope is that it’s love at first sight … the same as it was for me and hundreds of others when they first met Bailey and Chloe!
I cannot wait for you to see my Favorite Things and all our 2026 debuts in person next week. We’re like a collective Santa Claus and we’re all hoping you love the gift of debut! But in reverse, we want to know your favorite piece(s), too. You cannot fathom what a gift it is to us when we hear what you love (and sometimes don’t love) about our pieces. We don’t just listen, but we hear you, and the only gift on our wish list this year is your feedback.
Pack your party shoes, bring your opinions, and travel safely!
Until next week …
