I don’t think any frequent followers of this blog will be surprised at how excited I am that two of
my favorite things – Christmas and beautiful homes – are being beautifully showcased on
Saturday, December 6th, and Saturday, December 13th.
DECEMBER 6TH – THE HISTORIC LEWES HOUSE TOUR
On the 6th, the First Town in the First State will host the Historic Lewes House Tour. It happens
from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features a walking or self-driving tour of some of Delaware’s most
beautiful homes, all decked out for the most festive season of the year. There will be a wide
range of architecture from centuries-old colonial homes to those from the mid-20th Century
to new state-of-the-art residences. Tickets are $50, and include:
- Admission to all of the homes on the tour as well as the historic DAR House and the
gorgeously decorated lobby of The Lodge at Historic Lewes
- A detailed guidebook with descriptions of each home on the tour
- Admission to the Holiday Village & Market on the Lewes Historical Society’s
Shipcarpenter Street campus.
Children under the age of 12 are admitted for free with paying adults. You can pick up tickets at
the Lewes Historical Society’s campus between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and
on the day of the event, at 110 Shipcarpenter Street, starting at 8 a.m. Proceeds with benefit the
Historical Society’s educational efforts.
DECEMBER 6TH – CHRISTMAS IN ODESSA
Saturday, December 6th is also a fine day for a road trip to historic Odessa, Delaware, located in
New Castle County. This tiny treasure of a town features more than 80 historic buildings,
including some of the state’s grandest old homes. Several from the 18th and 19th centuries will be
decorated in period trimmings and featured on a self-guided walking tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other holiday happenings in Odessa that day include:
- The unveiling of Gingerbread Houses on display at 506 Main Street from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m.
- Tea & Cookies, hosted by The Women’s Club of Odessa, served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at the Historic Odessa Foundation’s Visitor Center at 201 Main Street.
- Christmas Concerts at St. Paul’s Church at 406 Main Street, free and open to the public,
with the Male Choir at 11 a.m., the Bell Ringers at 12 noon, the Chancel Choir at
12:15 p.m. the St. Paul’s Choir performing A Christmas Sing a Long at 12:30 p.m.
- An organ concert by Ken Warner at Old St. Paul’s Church at 506 High Street, also
open to the public, from 2 to 4 p.m.
- The Odessa Tree Lighting Ceremony on the lawn of the Old Academy at 4th and Main
Streets at 5:30 p.m.
DECEMBER 13TH – THE MILTON HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR
Back near the beaches, beautiful and historic downtown Milton will be the site of the Milton
Holiday House Tour, which happens from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 13th , and
features seven festively decorated homes and . . . for your grandkids . . . an aircraft hangar, also
decorated for the season, with a flying car.
DECEMBER 13TH – THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS IN HISTORIC OLD NEW CASTLE
Also on December 13th , Old New Castle – an absolute treasure of historic architecture – will host
The Spirit of Christmas. It’ll be a marvelous holiday setting, with scores of stately homes
decorated for the season, wonderful restaurants for lunch and dinner, including comfort food and
colonial décor at Jessop’s Tavern, French Quarter bistro fare at Nora
Lee’s, and epicurean teas and vegetarian fare at The Mercury Café and
Tea House, and live music and wonderful cuisine at Zollies.
The festive town will also host:
- The Shaw Alley Holiday Food Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- A Recorder Concert from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the New Castle Courthouse Museum at
211 Delaware Street
- The Sale of Soups & Breads along with Free Refreshments from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at
the New Castle Presbyterian Church Education Building at 25 East Second Street
- Christmas Cantina Food Trucks from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Delaware Street
- The Christmas Court: Father Christmas from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Academy
Building on The Green
- Quality time with Santa Claus/Dutch Sinterklaas from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Town Hall
Arch at Market and Delaware Streets
- Tours of Private Homes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- A Holiday Market on the Green from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the town’s historic green
- A Holiday Beer Garden by Wilmington Brew Works at the Secret Garden at the
Academy Building on the Green from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- The Immanuel Bell Ringers Concert from 12 to 1 p.m. at Immanuel Episcopal on The
Green
- The Willow Tree & Friends Concert from 12 to 1 p.m. at the New Castle Presbyterian
Church Meeting House at 25 East Second Street
- Scott Birney & The Sin City Band Concert from 12 to 3 p.m. at The Arsenal/New
Castle Visitor Center
- A Carol Sing-a-Long with the Immanuel Choir from 12:30 to 1 p.m. at Immanuel
Episcopal
- Christmas Court: Swedish JulTomte from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Arsenal/New
Castle Visitors Center/New Castle Historical Society at 30 Market Street
- Tours & Crafts at the New Castle Courthouse Museum, at 211 Delaware Street from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- The Winter Festival & Market at the New Castle Public Library at 424 Delaware Street
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- The Goodwill Fire Company Antique Fire Truck in front of Old Town Hall at 203
Delaware Street
- The Arasepha Garden Club’s Wreath & Poinsettia Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the
New Castle Public Library
- Artists at the Arsenal from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 30 Market Street
- Celebration Ringers Handbell Concert from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at New Castle
Presbyterian Church at 25 East Second Street
- The Westfield Chorale from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. at New Castle Methodist Church at 510
Delaware Street
- The Diamond State Sax Quartet from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Academy Building on The
Green
- Caroling by Delaware Valley Classical School Choir from 2 to 3 p.m. at Immanuel
Episcopal at 50 Market Street
- The Suzuki Violin Concert by the Music School of Delaware from 3 to 4 p.m. at the
New Castle Courthouse Museum
- The New Ark Chorale Concert from 3 to 4 p.m. at the New Castle Presbyterian Church
Meeting House
- Strolling Carolers from Delaware Valley Classical School from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. all
around town
- The Town Tree Lighting Ceremony with a performance by the Delaware Valley
Classical School Choir and a visit from Santa from 4:30 to 5 p.m. at Market &
Delaware Streets
- LIT for Holidays: Read House & Gardens, with caroling, drinks, hors d’oeuvres and an
art exhibit at this historic home located at 42 The Strand – separate tickets required.
DECEMBER 13TH HOLIDAY SHOPPING AT THE REHOBOTH ART LEAGUE
Rehoboth’s most beautiful holiday setting will host Fine Arts and Crafts, including holiday
gift items from Rehoboth Art League Members in the Corkran, Tubbs, and Ventures
Galleries at the Open House on Saturday, December 13th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can
enjoy live music while shopping by Roo Brown and Mixed Blessings from 11 a.m. to noon
and Chris Johnson on Piano from noon to 2 p.m.