Prepare to deck the halls and welcome the holiday spirit in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The 25th annual Holiday House Tour is set to enchant the community once again, inviting residents and visitors to explore six beautifully decorated homes on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7 — with tickets on sale now and expected to sell out sooner rather than later.
The indoor and outdoor fundraiser features two distinct tours: The general tour from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the McArthur Estate tour, where guests can explore the site at 60-minute intervals from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. for a one-hour visit.
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake, these self-guided tours serve as the club’s largest charity fundraiser.
They promise an immersive and festive experience, featuring a mix of familiar favourites and new surprises, said Rose Campbell, co-chair of the tour committee alongside Kevin Stokes.
Since its inception, the tour has drawn holiday decor enthusiasts from many parts of Canada and the U.S. NOTL to admire the lavish decor of these historic homes.
“People really look forward to it. A lot of people come year after year,” said Campbell. “It’s quite amazing that it has become such an annual event for many.”
The general tour features The Cedar House, BlueGate, Lakeview, Somerset, Royal Manor Inn and Riverview, all to be decorated by different teams of homeowners, gardeners and garden centres.
Willowbank, which was featured as one of last year’s six homes, is now a permanent site on the Holiday House Tour, said Campbell.
Inside the McArthur Estate, guests can enjoy Peller Estates sparkling wine and hot apple cider while surrounded by decor, live music and festive characters like Santa and the Grinch — all while cozying up around crackling fires and learning about the history of the site.
Supporting this event not only enriches the community spirit but also ensures the proceeds benefit those in need, she said.
The tour raises funds for a range of community projects, including local organizations like the Niagara Jazz Festival and YWCA, as well as international initiatives such as ShelterBox and Doctors Without Borders.
Campbell encourages first-time attendees to watch for hourly lineup notifications via email.
She also advises wearing comfortable, warm boots that slip off easily since guests must remove their footwear in each home. They should also bring a bag for their boots.
Attendees can secure spots at a discounted rate with early bird tickets for the general tour available for $45 each until Nov. 8. After that, the price increases to $52.50.
The McArthur Estate tour costs $65 for adults, with children under 12 entering for free. There is no early bird option for this tour.
A combined adult ticket for both the general Holiday House Tour and the McArthur tour is also available for a discounted price of $100.
Tickets are expected to sell out quickly, as the general tour has sold out before the end of early bird sales in previous years, said Campbell.
For more information, to purchase tickets, or to sign up to volunteer for the tours, visit holidayhousetournotl.ca.
