Decking the halls for Rotary Holiday House Tour
Garland is being unravelled, bows are being straightened and strings of lights are being untangled all around the Old Town.
With less than three weeks until the Rotary Club’s 21st annual Holiday House Tour, preparations are in the works for arguably the most magical weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“It’s going to look really fabulous,” said Lorna Penman, chair of the tour.
The town itself is well-loved by people who come out to visit and explore during the holidays, she said, but on this particular weekend, with the house tour and the candlelight stroll, it draws quite the crowd. This year is sure to provide an extra treat, as the town has been dressed up in Victorian Christmas decor.
The general portion of the tour features six select homes, expertly decorated in a theme of the owners choosing, and every house ends up offering a completely different and unique esthetic, said Penman.
For partners Scott Langill and Paul Evans, owners of the Stocking House on Johnson Street, the theme will be less is nice but more is better.
“It’s going to be an explosion of Christmas,” said Langill.
Visitors can expect a lot of live greens, heaps of colour and bursts of whimsical touches here and there, decorated by Evans.
Having moved into their home just two years ago, and participated in this summer’s garden tour, the pair said they were honoured to have been recruited for such a major town event this holiday.
“It’s just a great privilege to be able to help out the community, help out Rotary, also establish Niagara-on-the-Lake, help establish that whole brand,” said Langill.
Knowing that the proceeds are poured back into important causes made joining an even more attractive offer, he added.
Penman said Rotary raised well more than $100,000 through last year’s event. Funds raised are filtered into international, community and youth support projects; it’s the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
With roughly 3,300 of 3,800 available tickets already sold, Penman said she is expecting it’ll be another sold-out event. The evening VIP tour sold out months ago.
Other sites to visit include Niagara Historical
Society and Museum, Niagara Pumphouse, McFarland House, RiverBrink Art Museum, Peller Estates Winery and Restaurant, Wine Country Vintners, and Trius Winery and Restaurant — each of which will have a special display, deal or offering in conjunction with the event.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church parish members are decorating the minister’s stately Georgian home in celebration of the church’s 225th anniversary.
The self-guided holiday tour runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to niagaraonthelakerotary.ca.