DURING THE NEXT few weeks, homeowners throughout our area will be opening their houses to welcome visitors. From Edenton to East Beach, Onancock to Olde Towne, the halls will be decked with boughs of holly and wreathed in seasonal finery as civic groups present annual open houses and holiday home tours. See the map and legend below for more information on what's happening and contact numbers. All area codes are 757 unless otherwise noted.
NOV. 29 & 30
BOYKIN'S TAVERN MUSEUM
Isle of Wight
Sponsor Isle of Wight County Historic Resources Department
Time 4 to 5:30 p.m. and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 29, and 5 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30.
Tickets $25 per session at the Smithfield and Isle of Wight Visitor Center, 335 Main St. in Smithfield, or Bon Vivant, 1504 S. Church St. in Smithfield.
Features Historic holiday food and wine tasting, costumed interpreters and 1812 encampment at Boykin's Tavern, 17130 Monument Circle in Isle of Wight
Information 365-9771 or 357-5182.
Related: Trade shopping for holiday food and wine tasting
DEC. 2
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY
Virginia Beach
Sponsor Cape Henry Woman's Club
Time 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tickets $5. Church Point Manor House, 4001 Church Point Road
Features Decorated historic home with bake and Christmas shops, wreaths and bazaar items. Refreshments.
Information 496-1026 or 424-8858.
DEC. 6
HISTORIC SOUTH NORFOLK
Chesapeake
Sponsor Woman's Club of South Norfolk
Time 4 to 8 p.m.
Tickets $10; under 12, $5, at South Norfolk Congregational Christian Church, 1030 Jackson Ave.
Features Four homes; walking tour with vans if needed.
Information 482-2537
SANDBRIDGE CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES
Virginia Beach
Sponsor Sandbridge community and Sandbridge Community Chapel
Time 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tickets $20, Sandbridge Community Chapel, 3041 Sandpiper Road.
Features Private homes plus antique and exotic car show, bistro, bake sale, silent auction, arts and craft shop and free shuttle.
Information 689-0978, 426-0237, www.sandbridgechristmastour.com
DEC. 6 & 7
EAST BEACH HOLIDAY PORCH TOUR
Norfolk
Sponsor East Beach and Hope House Foundation
Time Noon to 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 7
Tickets Free
Features Start tour at 4487 Pleasant Ave. A progressive illumination and Christmas tree lighting will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 6. Also carriage rides, hot chocolate, carolers and Santa.
Information 333-6650, www.eastbeachnorfolk.com
LIFE ON LINDEN AND NEARBY
Suffolk
Sponsor Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society
Time 3 to 7 p.m.
Tickets $15 in advance; $18 tour days at Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, 326 N. Main St., and Suffolk Visitor Center, 321 N. Main St.
Features Six homes plus baked goods, historical exhibits, costumed characters, barbecue dinners and restaurant discounts.
Information 539-2781, www.suffolkhistory.org
DEC. 7
FREEMASON HISTORIC AREA HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
Norfolk
Sponsor Freemason Street Area Association and the Friends of the Pagoda and Oriental Garden Foundation
Time 1 to 6 p.m.
Tickets $15 advance; $17 day of tour at Pagoda Garden Tea House and Gallery, 265 W. Tazewell St. and 345 W. Freemason St.
Features Ten venues including homes, a church and more showing the development of the Freemason area over the years with homes ranging from the 18th to the 21st centuries.
Information 623-2803, 623-1949
HISTORIC LAFAYETTE-WINONA
Norfolk
Sponsor Lafayette-Winona Civic League
Time 1 to 5 p.m.
Tickets $10 for adults and $5 for children 3-12 at Church of the Epiphany, 1530 Lafayette Blvd.
Features Six homes and four churches including an Arts and Crafts bungalow, a Queen Anne Victorian and a recently completed house. Participants who bring a canned good to be donated to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia will receive a free raffle ticket.
Information 855-2182
HOPE MANSION AND KING-BAZEMORE HOUSE OPEN HOUSE
Windsor, N.C.
Sponsor Historic Hope Foundation.
Time 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 7
Tickets Free admission on Dec. 7; $8 on other days. 132 Hope House Road, Windsor, N.C.
Features Hope Mansion, circa 1803, was the home of former North Carolina Gov. David Stone and is a mix of Federal and Georgian architecture. The King-Bazemore House was built in 1763 by William King. Both are decorated for the season Dec. 7-31.
Information (252) 794-3140
PORT NORFOLK HOLIDAY TOUR OF HOMES
Portsmouth
Sponsor The Port Norfolk Civic League
Time 3 to 7 p.m.
Tickets $10 advance, $12 tour day at Port Norfolk Community Center, 432 Broad St.
Features Four homes, a storefront home and one historical church, all built between 1895 and 1914, a free concert at 3 p.m. and refreshments.
Information 399-7526
DEC. 12 & 13
CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT TOUR
Edenton, N.C.
Sponsor Edenton Historical Commission
Time 4 to 8 p.m.
Tickets $25 (free under 12), Historic Edenton Visitor's Center, 108 N. Broad St., N.C.
Features Self-guided walking tour of historic homes, refreshments, eggnog, wassail bowl, caroling and parade
Contact (252) 482-7800
OLDE TOWNE CANDLELIGHT HOME TOUR
Portsmouth
Sponsor The Olde Towne Foundation
Time Dec. 12, 5 to 9 p.m.; Dec. 13, 1 to 5 p.m.
Tickets $20 at the Portsmouth Visitors Center, 6 Crawford Parkway.
Features Walking tour of seven houses including Greek revival and early Regency styles. Refreshments at The Hill House, 221 North St.
Information www.oldetownefoundation.org, 397-2646;
DEC. 13
ONANCOCK HOLIDAY TOUR
Eastern Shore
Sponsor Onancock Business and Civic Association
Time 2 to 6 p.m.
Tickets $15 at Onancock School on College Avenue
Features Six homes, a pharmacy and a church. Plus Christmas Music Festival, 4 to 8 p.m. at Cokesbury Church on Market Street and Ker Place open 2 to 6 p.m. on Market Street. Federal period activities and refreshments.
Information 787-7600 or 302-0388
DEC. 14
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Norfolk Downtown historic sites
Sponsor Chrysler Museum of Art
Time Noon to 5 p.m.
Tickets Free
Features Begin at the Freemason Street Reception Center, 401 E. Freemason St. and then visit a variety of historic homes and other sites for a look at Norfolk's colorful past.
Information 441-1526
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