Onancock Christmas Homes Tour celebrates its 20th Anniversary
Christmas in Onancock is always a delightful experience, but this year the historic, waterside town is going all out. It’s the 20th Anniversary of the Onancock Christmas Homes Tour and Music Festival, and to mark this special occasion, 20 Events for 20 Years have been planned.
The season kicks off 5 pm Friday, November 22, with a tree lighting ceremony in Custis Park on the corner of Market and Ames Street. Along with carolers to warm your heart and hot cider to warm your hands, Santa will make an appearance – bring your phone so you can be sure to capture Selfies with Santa.
The fun continues with the Onancock Artisans and Farmers Holiday Market on the 23rd, the ESVA Artisan Guild Holiday Studio Tour on the 29th and 30th, a special Second Friday December 13th, with North and Market Street lit by glowing Luminarias, movies, plays, Santa arriving by boat and accompanied by his kayaking reindeer, and a parade. Complete information about dates and times of all events can be found at Onancock.org/events.
The highlight will be the 20th Annual Onancock Christmas Homes Tour on Saturday, December 14, from 1 to 5 pm, in Onancock. Five privately owned homes will be open to the public, each beautifully decorated and with their own special stories to tell, along with four churches ready to talk about their history, and, of course, Ker Place. In addition, Historic Cokesbury Church hosts its 20th free concert from 2 to 6 pm on that same day. Proceeds from this event go to benefit the Eastern Shore Public Library.
Tickets are available online at Eventbrite.com at “20th Anniversary Christmas Homes Tour and Music Festival”, and at Book Bin, Historic Onancock School, Ker Place, Machipongo Trading Company, North Street Market, and Thomas Gardens. Tickets can be purchased the day of the event at Ker Place by cash or check, or Historic Onancock School by cash, check or credit card.
Don’t miss this year’s special homes tour which includes two homes never- before opened to the public, with all being uniquely decorated by the owners:
A 1930’s Sears Kit style home, built following the popular plan named The Lynnhaven
An Eastern Shore style cottage, c. 1900, decorated with one of a kind, hand- made quilts designed and constructed by the artist/homeowner
An Eastern Shore style farm- house, c. 1830, furnished with hand made furniture, crafted by the owner’s family, and decorated and ready for a German style Christmas
An elegant downtown Victorian built in 1883, and still in the family of the original owner, may have been updated inside to adapt to modern living, but its ornate façade looks just as it did a century and a half ago
The original parsonage for Cokesbury Church, built in 1836 and restored in 2002 after a devastating fire, still retaining its original heart pine floors
Walk or take the shuttle bus to each location. When you need a break, be sure to visit this year’s Event Sponsor, Commonwealth Living, where refreshments will be served, and tours of the facility will be available.
The Onancock Christmas Homes Tour is a rain or shine event. For more information please visit Onancock.org/event, email Christmasinonancock2019@gmail.com, or call 443-480-9504.
Leave a Reply