Every year, Warner Bros Studios Hollywood opens up the Gilmore Girls set with an immersive Stars Hollow tour. Dubbed Holidays Made Here, the two-week event features fan activities, set tours, themed foods, and even the occasional cast appearance. It’s a must for any Gilmore Girls fan who wants to relive the magic of Stars Hollow.
In addition to the Gilmore Girls set, Holidays Made Here features activities and events for Friends fans (though on a much smaller scale). It’s essentially Disneyland for Gilmore Girls fans. This was my second year attending this event at Warner Bros studios, and it did not disappoint.
The Gilmore Girls tour at Warner Bros studios ends on Jan. 5, 2025, so there’s still time to go. If you’ve always wanted to visit Stars Hollow, here’s a look at some of the highlights from the Gilmore Girls tour at Warner Bros studios:
How to visit the Stars Hollow set at Warner Bros. Studios
To visit the Stars Hollow set, simply buy a regular Warner Bros studio tour ticket during during Holidays Made Here, which ends Jan. 5, 2025. Warner Bros offers three types of tours and all three get you access to the festivities. Each tour is 1-3 hours long and costs $73-$300 per adult.
Once you complete the tour, you’ll be dropped off on the Stars Hollow set at Midwest Street. You can hang out as long as you want (the set closes at 7 PM), participate in activities, dine and shop to your heart’s content.
During Holidays Made Here, tour slots book up fast. You might still be able to get tickets to sold-out slots by calling customer service. My sister was able to get two additional tickets for our group this way, so it’s worth a try.
Holidays Made Here Itinerary
The Holidays Made Here tour starts with a golf cart ride through the Warner Bros lot, where a guide points out important landmarks, exterior sets, and TV history/trivia. Visitors get to check out an actual TV set before being dropped off at the “Friends” exhibit. Here, they can check out the “Friends” themed cafe, merch shop, and decorated set.
Finally, they’ll step out onto Midwest Street, AKA the Stars Hollow set. That’s where things get magical. Here’s an overview of what you can expect at the Warner Bros Holidays Made Here tour:
- Storytelling showcase: The tour starts in the Storytelling showcase, where you’ll learn about Warner Bros. history and view memorabilia from Old Hollywood.
- Tour of the backlot: The first thing you’ll do is hop on a golf cart for a tour of the backlot. This includes “The Jungle,” Warner Village, and New York Street.
- Set tour: After driving around the backlot for a while, you’ll step inside a soundstage to check out a real life TV show set. There are no photos or videos allowed in this portion of the tour.
- Self-guided tour: The self-guided tour takes place at Stage 48. Currently, it consists of a Friends exhibit, a merchandise shop, and replica of the set and Central Perk Cafe.
- Stars Hollow tour: Once you’re done at Central Perk, you can exit the building by walking past the cash registers. Keep walking straight, and you’ll see the entrance to Midwest Street, AKA Stars Hollow.
- Action and Magic Made Here: When you’re done in Stars Hollow, the golf carts will drop you off at your final exhibit. This one features costumes and props from Harry Potter, the cars featured in Batman and more. You can even pose for a photo holding an Academy Award from the third Lord of the Rings movie.
The Stars Hollow tour at Warner Bros Studios
The Stars Hollow tour at Warner Bros Studios is nothing short of magical. It features no shortage of interactive experiences. Not only is the entire Stars Hollow set dressed up to the nines, but fans can actually go inside many of the houses and shops. It was so fun that I ended up going twice in one week.
Upon entering, you’ll immediately see a sign pointing guests to the various attractions. They include the following:
- Lorelai’s house
- Dragonfly Inn
- Luke’s Diner
- Doose’s Market
- Stars Hollow High School
- The town gazebo
- Kim’s Antiques
- Al’s Pancake World
On opening day, the event crew handed out copies of The Stars Hollow Gazette. It featured a story about the Gilmore Girls Walmart commercial the winter poem…and that’s all I can remember because I lost my copy of the Gazette.
Anyway, it was nice of them to put that together, considering the massive crowds visiting the Gilmore Girls set that day.
Regardless of when you’re visiting the Gilmore Girls set, you’ll get to experience most of the same things. Here’s a complete list of activities you won’t want to miss:
Visit Lorelai’s House
The first stop on the Gilmore Girls tour is Lorelai’s house. It’s right at the entrance to Stars Hollow. Follow the sign, past the awning, and you’ll be greeted by the charming two-story house.
Whoever decorated the set did a superb job with the details. Three white envelopes containing acceptance letters from Harvard, Princeton, and Yale peered out of the Gilmore mailbox.
Not only was the house beautifully decked out for Christmas, but there was a food stand selling themed pastries and coffee from Scott Patterson’s company (Scotty P’s Big Mug Coffee). The apple tarts are a must!
While waiting to see the inside of the house, we took photos in front of Lorelai’s Jeep. The line went by fast, and the crew gave each guest time to prepare before snapping their pictures.
We took a cozy group photo on the porch before proceeding inside. As usual, the foyer featured costumes from the show in a glass enclosure. To the right was Rory’s room, and while it didn’t resemble the TV set, it was a nice little setup. There was her dresser with Yale memorabilia, photos from the show, and an overall cozy Gilmore vibe.
The adjacent living room set-up isn’t an exact replica of Lorelai’s living room, but it was cute. A staff member was present to take group photos, and he was also good about giving us space to explore.
Fun fact: The back of Lorelai’s house was actually the front of Sookie’s house. So, while the set was dressed to look like Lorelai’s living room, it was actually Sookie’s.
Meet the cast
When I visited the Gilmore Girls set on opening day of Holidays Made Here, several cast members appeared to record an episode of Scott Patterson’s podcast. I got to sit in the fifth row and listen to the cast talk about their favorite memories of the show. I left after about a half hour because the heat was unbearable, but I caught glimpses of the actors throughout the event as they stopped to take photos with fans.
Scott Patterson will return on Jan. 5, 2025, to close out the Holidays Made Here event. He’ll probably make himself available for photo ops with fans, and who knows – there might be special guests accompanying him. So if you want a chance to meet at least one Gilmore Girls cast member, you might want to go on that last day.
Hourly trivia at the Black & White & Read Bookstore
The Black & White & Read Bookstore was a new addition to the Gilmore Girls set tour. The Black & White & Read Bookstore is the town’s movie theater on the show. It’s where the characters watch classic movies and locally-made productions (i.e., “A Film by Kirk”).
During Holidays Made Here, the Black & White & Read Bookstore held hourly trivia events. The last one is held at 6 PM and they fill up fast, so be there at least 10 minutes before the hour to secure your spot.
Fans are quizzed on various aspects of the show, and those who get a perfect score will face off in a final round. My niece made it into the final round but got her question wrong. The host was kind enough to give her a consolation prize for her efforts. Trivia hour is a must for any Gilmore Girls fan, so don’t miss this one!
Enter the costume contest
Most fans dress like the characters, so there’s a costume contest where you can win prizes for showing the most Stars Hollow spirit.
Decorate cookies at Sookie’s house
Sookie’s house is attached to Lorelai’s, across from the Black & White & Read Bookstore. On the driveway, there are tables set up for cookie decorating. It’s a fun activity for kids or anyone looking for a free snack.
The Dragonfly Inn
In Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Lorelai buys another inn to expand her hospitality empire. The Warner Bros folks dressed this Inn as “The Dragonfly Inn.” While it’s not the original Dragonfly, it looks very similar inside. Yes, that’s right: This time around, fans can go inside and even enjoy tea.
The Dragonfly Inn features several photo ops and a gift shop. Upon walking in, you’ll see the hotel reception desk, where fans can get their picture taken. There’s even a staffer nearby who will assist.
To the left is a replica of the dining room where the Gilmores had their weekly Friday Night Dinner. It features portraits from the show: Rory reading in a library, the Gilmore family portrait, and the oversized “Spinal-tapped” version of Richard’s portrait.
Past the dining room is the Dragonfly dining area. There’s plenty of space for fans to sit and have afternoon tea or just relax.
Kim’s Antiques
Kim’s Antiques is right across from The Dragonfly Inn. Two years ago, this was merely a facade, but this time, they opened it up and filled it to the brim with items you might find at Kim’s Antiques.
This would’ve been a prime merchandise shop, but instead, it was a sort of maze that led out to Gypsy’s autobody shop. I still enjoyed it. They played audio of Rory and Lane trying to find each other through the cluttered space.
Scavenger hunt
For around $20, you can join a Gilmore Girls scavenger hunt. You can sign up at a stand in between the Dragonfly Inn and Stars Hollow High School. I was oddly short on time during my visits, so I skipped it. But it sounds fun!
The Stars Hollow gazebo
The Stars Hollow gazebo is an iconic part of the show. No visit to Warner Bros. is complete without a photo op here. During Holidays Made Here, the gazebo is decorated with garlands and Christmas lights. It’s very beautiful, especially at night.
When I did the Gilmore Girls tour in 2022, fans were allowed to just roam in and around the gazebo. They set up a line with a professional photographer to take pictures this time. Another staff member is on hand who will take photos with your camera. This is nice because Warner Bros charges $28 for the first picture and $19 for any subsequent photos you decide to purchase (on-site only. If you decide to buy photos later, they’ll cost you $28 each).
We stood in line for about 15 minutes to take a group photo on the gazebo steps. Later, I realized we could’ve just gone to the other side, where fans could take their own pictures. So if you don’t want to stand in line, just walk to the other side (facing Doose’s Market).
Doose’s Market
Doose’s Market was one of my favorite places to visit in Stars Hollow. It was dressed up to look exactly like the show’s. While there were lots of props, food and products were also available for sale. For example, they sold tin can versions of the infamous cornstarch box.
They also had Doose’s Market candy packets and other snacks available. When I walked into Doose’s on opening day, I was in for a pleasant surprise: Michael Winters, who played Taylor Doose on Gilmore Girls, walked in with the camera crew. He was escorted outside shortly after, but not before some of us recognized him.
Luke’s Diner
A short walk from Doose’s Market is the main event. No, I’m not talking about the Stars Hollow Gazebo – I’m talking about Luke’s Diner. They opened up the interior, and it looks identical to the show.
When I went on opening day, the line was long. It took over an hour, and we were informed they might close it down before we made it to the front (for a media event). Luckily, they had a change of plans, and we made it to the front of the line. By “we” I mean me and a bunch of girls I met while waiting.
For over an hour, we chatted, played trivia games, and held each other’s spots in line while some of us ran off to grab food or try to meet cast members. When we got to the front of the line, there were two photo spots: One under the Luke’s Diner sign and one in front of the door.
In addition to a professional photo, another cast member took my phone and snapped some pictures for me.
Inside Luke’s Diner, we were warmly greeted by Robert Michael Lee, who played an extra on the show. The friendly staff allowed us to take photos and explore the space without feeling rushed.
I took a photo at the counter and in the “power seats” by the window. It was by far the highlight of the whole experience. A week later, the line was much shorter, and the weather cooler.
Christmas tree lighting at Stars Hollow High School
There’s a tree-lighting ceremony at 6:30 PM every night outside of Stars Hollow High School. Don’t miss it! It’s incredibly beautiful, and right afterward, the staff offered to help fans take photos. The tree came out absolutely stunning in my photos.
Right before it happens, they make an announcement. Crowds gather as Lorelai’s voiceover proclaims, “I smell snow.” The tree lights up as snow and lights are projected onto surrounding buildings. Next, fake snow starts to fall as Grant-Lee Phillips’ “Winterglow” plays. I’ll say it: Disneyland wishes it had a tree-lighting ceremony this magical.
Where to eat in Stars Hollow
I have to give it up to Orlando, the catering company that provides much of the food for Holidays Made Here. There are so many delicious foods to try, many of them inspired by the show.
Coffee, Coffee, Coffee at Lorelai’s House
When I remembered how much I loved the apple tarts two years ago, I had to have them again. They did not disappoint—they were perfectly sweet, with a custard topping underneath sliced apples. If I could have, I would’ve eaten a dozen of them. However, we bought the last three they had left, which put a stop to my plan.
The stand at Lorelai’s house also sells coffee for a reasonable $3, hot chocolate, Pop-Tarts, Twinkies, cupcakes, and gluten-free loaf slices.
Secret Bar
The Secret Bar is located in an alley next to the Stars Hollow bookstore. You can order drinks (including non-alcoholic options) at the window next to the alley. The menu consists of smoothies, cocktails, and mocktails.
You can order “The Rory” (a Twinkie-flavored smoothie), the infamous Founder’s Day Punch, or plain old water, soda, and lemonade. There are tables outside the Stars Hollow Gazette next door, or you can walk to The Secret Bar.
Al’s Pancake World
Al’s Pancake World is located in the cul-de-sac between Doose’s Market and Luke’s Diner. Oraldno caters the food and it’s excellent. Two years ago, I had the cheeseburger and tater tots.
This time, I ordered their churros as a snack while waiting for the podcast to start. These might well be the best churros I’ve ever had: Hot, crispy, and filled with caramel (I think!). They’re shareable, but I ate the whole box in one sitting.
Tea at the Dragonfly Inn
I didn’t get to try afternoon tea at The Dragonfly Inn, but it’s pretty pricey at $30-$60 per person. I heard great things about it, and since the catering was excellent overall, I’m sure it lived up to the price.
You can also grab a scone and coffee for a more affordable option.
Doose’s Market
Doose’s Market sells many snacks, including cold sandwiches. You can also grab drinks and different types of branded candy. This is a good place to go for a quick, cheap snack. The lines can get long since people also buy merchandise, but they move quickly.
Luke’s Diner
On Opening Day, we got to go inside Luke’s Diner and order coffee and snacks. A week later, they sped things up by taking orders outside the diner and having us pick them up inside. I think this system was a welcome improvement.
Luke’s Diner sells coffee, doughnuts, apple fritters, cherry danishes, and a gluten-free loaf slice. It’s not the best place to go if you’re hungry because everyone is in line for a photo op, and it can take an hour or longer to get to the front.
The coffee at Luke’s was solid – I could drink it black. If you don’t want to buy coffee but still want a Luke’s coffee cup, the staff will sell you one for around $1.
Hewes Brothers Gas Station
Outside of Kim’s Antiques, you’ll find the Hewes Brothers gas station and Gypsy’s auto body shop. The Hewes Brothers gas station sells lots of different foods. The lines were short on both visits, making it a great spot to grab a bite. The menu includes tater tots (which I loved), burgers, and there may have been hot dogs.
You can grab your food and head down to one of the nearby picnic tables or enjoy your lunch at the Secret Bar in the nearby alley.
Stars Hollow photo ops
There is no shortage of photo ops on the Stars Hollow set at Warner Bros studios. There are obvious ones like Lorelai’s house and Luke’s Diner. Then there are ones you may have missed, like the “Ice Cream Queen” poster.
Here’s a list of photo ops to knock out during your visit to Stars Hollow, aside from the obvious ones:
- The sleigh outside the Independence Inn: The sleigh is lit up and dressed up for Christmas. You can take a professional photo here or have a friend snap one with your camera.
- The Gilmore dining room: Located inside the Dragonfly Inn, the Gilmore dining room is a great place to take a photo (especially with a group). There are occasional lulls where you’ll have the space to yourself.
- Hewes Brothers gas station: This is where Gypsy’s autobody shop was filmed. A great photo spot, with minimal crowding.
- Stars Hollow Gazebo: Either stand in line for the pros or walk to the other side for a DYI shot.
- Bjork the snow woman: Right in front of the Gazebo.
- The Stars Hollow Sign: The Stars Hollow sign is right behind the gazebo, near the Stars Hollow bookstore and town church. A staffer will take pictures with your own camera.
- The Ice Cream Queen poster: Nex to the Stars Hollow Beauty Sleep Store.
- Luke’s Diner: If you want to skip the line, just stand outside of Taylor’s Soda Shoppe and take your own photo by the Luke’s Diner sign. Just avoid intruding on other people’s photos.
- The Friends fountain: Not part of the Stars Hollow experience, but it’s right by Luke’s Diner. So why not?
- Stars Hollow High School: The high school is a great spot for a photo (with or without the nearby Christmas tree). There are no crowds, good lighting, and it is an iconic part of the show.
Where to buy Gilmore Girls merchandise
One of the great things about the Gilmore Girls experience at Warner Bros Hollywood is the ability to buy merchandise that you won’t necessarily find anywhere else. In fact, I went to the WB shop website afterward and couldn’t find many of the stuff available for sale at the event.
If you’re looking to stock up on Gilmore Girls merchandise, there’s no shortage of places to sell them. Here’s a guide for where to go:
- Merchandise for sale at Lorelai’s House: On the porch at Lorelai’s house, you’ll find a small merchandise shop that extends inside. They sell mostly clothing items and some Bjork snowglobes (if you know, you know). This is a good starting point, but I also realized that they tend to run out of things faster because it’s the first stop for most visits. If they do, just let the staff know—they’ll run off something “in the back” and grab the size or item you need.
- The Dragonfly Inn: The Dragonfly Inn has its own merchandise shop. You’ll find it to your right upon entering the building. It’s a quaint shop that sells candles, mugs, jewelry and more. This year’s mug selection wasn’t great, but I liked the ones for sale at the Dragonfly Inn the best.
- Taylor’s Old Fashioned Soda Shoppe: While you can’t buy ice cream at Taylor’s Old Fashioned Soda Shoppe, you can choose from the largest selection of Gilmore Girls merchandise at this event. They offer many of the same items for sale in the other shops, with extra options.
- The stand outside Le Chat Club: Walk past Hewe’s Brothers, and you’ll see Le Chat Club, where you can pose for photos and buy Paul Anka stuffed animals at a nearby cart. Why the Cat Club is selling dog gear, I don’t know, but it’s cute! There are also portable bathrooms here, which is convenient if you don’t want to go all the way back to the “Friends” exhibit.
- Stars Hollow Books: The Stars Hollow Bookstore sells mostly Chilton-themed merchandise, books by cast members and about the show. They also sell custom-engraved journals and give away Team Jess and Team Dean buttons (tellingly, no Logan). Buttons are only available with a purchase. They have some affordable trinkets you can pick up if you want one of these buttons.
- Stars Hollow Beauty Sleep Store: This place sells Gilmore Girls-themed pajamas, T-shirts, and more. It’s pretty small and can get crowded.
Tips for the best experience
Whether you’re going this year or next, the Gilmore Girls experience at Warner Bros is incredibly fun and well worth the price of admission. However, there are some things you can do to improve your experience and get the most out of it:
- Buy discounted tickets: You can buy discounted tickets for the Warner Bros Hollywood tour through Undercover Tourist and AAA Travel. SoCal residents also qualify for discounts. It can knock $10 or more off the price of admission, so why not? Put the savings towards the apple tarts.
- Go around noon: The earliest slot is at 9 AM, and the latest is 3:30 PM. You don’t want to go too late and spend your time in lines or too early and miss out on the tree lighting. I would recommend going around noon. That way, if they put you through the one-hour tour first, you still have plenty of time to explore Stars Hollow.
- Get there early: Whatever your tour time, arrive around 30 minutes early. That will give you enough time to park, pass through security, and avoid lines at the ticketing counter.
- Hit up Luke’s first: If you’re coming to Stars Hollow during Holidays Made Here, I recommend making a beeline for Luke’s Diner. Most people will start at Lorelai’s House, but the line at Luke’s gets longer throughout the day. Head straight there, and you’ll spend less time waiting in line – especially since Lorelai’s house gets less crowded in the late afternoon.
- Be there at night: You can easily spend 4-5 hours in Stars Hollow, and it only gets more beautiful at night. So be there to take in all the festivities.
Is the Warner Bros Hollywood tour worth it?
I think the Warner Bros Hollywood tour is well worth it, especially if you attend during Holidays Made Here. The standard tour is fun and informative, but the ability to visit Stars Hollow and immerse yourself in the world of Gilmore Girls is an added bonus.
You’re bound to have a blast, meet some great people, and enjoy delicious food. It’s a must for any Gilmore Girls fan who wants to convene with other fans and nerd out in a judgment-free zone.
As someone who has attended the Gilmore Girls fan festival and visited Unionville, Ontario (where the pilot episode was filmed), this was by far my favorite Gilmore Girls activity to date.
I went on opening day as well as on my birthday a week later. As an avid Gilmore Girls fanatic, I had an absolute blast and highly recommend this event.
