Many homeowners use the magical time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s to decorate their homes with great imagination and flair.
Some people prefer subtle touches. Others pull out all the stops. Holiday home tours enable the rest of us to see these houses at their festive best. As a bonus, tour admission often benefits a local charity or neighborhood organization. See a list of Colorado holiday home tours on 2F.
– Claire Walter, special to The Denver Post
What and Where:
Estes Park Holiday Home Tour
When: Dec. 2, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Details: Five area homes from quaint mountain hideaways to full-log homes decked out in holiday finery. Parade of Trees, featuring 30 decorated trees, will be at Good Samaritan Village. Raffle tickets (six for $5) will net each of 30 winners one of the trees and a gift certificate for a restaurant meal or an item from a local shop.
Sponsor: Estes Park Quota Club.
Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 on tour day. Tickets are sold at the Estes Park Visitors Center, 500 Big Thompson Ave., Estes Park. Advance tickets are also available at several local realtors and at McDonald’s Bookstore on Elk Ave.
More info: 970-586-5800, www.estesparkcvb.com.
Louisville Holiday Home Tour
When: Dec. 2, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Details: Five downtown homes and a crafts boutique at the United Methodist Church at Spruce and Jefferson.
Sponsor: Louisville Historical Commission.
Tickets: $10 in advance and $8 on tour day from the Louisville Historical Museum on West Main St.
More info: 303-665-9048.
What and Where: Historic Homes for the Holidays, Boulder
When: Dec. 2, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Dec. 3, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m
Details: Half-a-dozen homes in the University Place neighborhood, Boulder’s newest landmark district, plus a holiday boutique at the historic Firehouse #2, now Boulder’s pottery studio.
Sponsor: Historic Boulder.
Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 on tour days. Advance tickets are available at the Boulder Bookstore (Pearl Street Mall), West End Gardener (8th and Pearl), The Gift Box (Meadows Shopping Center) Sturtz & Copeland (Valmont between 28th and 29th Sts.), Page Two (Gunbarrel), Timbalier Dry Goods (Lafayette), Twin Peaks Mall Information Kiosk (Longmont) and King Soopers (Table Mesa and Sunrise Center, both in Boulder). Tour day, at the firehouse and at some of the homes.
More info: 303-444-5192, www.historicboulder.org.
Homes for the Holidays Tour, Denver
When: Dec. 2, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Dec. 3, 11:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Details: Five historic homes of considerable grandeur in the Morgan’s Historic District, just south of the Denver Botanic Gardens. Refreshments available.
Sponsor: Bromwell Elementary School.
Tickets: $15 in advance at Safeway (Sixth and Corona, and 11th and Steele). $20 on tour day at Perry & Company Real Estate (Third and Fillmore). On Tour Day, tickets will be at Perry & Company and at the homes.
More info: 303-552-8848, www.bromwellhousetour.com.
Sounds of the Season Holiday Home Tour, Teller County
When: Dec. 2, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Dec. 3, 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m.
Details: Six festively decorated homes in Woodland Park and Florissant. Live music at each venue on both days. Also, refreshments and holiday boutique at Lost Dutchman Creek Conference Center in Divide.
Sponsor: Dickson Center, Woodland Park High School.
Tickets: In advance, $12 for adults and $7 for students at about 20 locations, including City Market. On tour day, $15 at Lost Dutchman Conference Center.
More info: 719-687-5939, www.dicksoncenter.org.
Windsor Holiday Home Tour
When: Dec. 10, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
Details: Six homes in the Water Valley neighborhood along the Cache le Poudre River and nearby lakes. Door prizes and refreshments offered. For $5 per item, appraisers will evaluate antiques and collectibles (or photographs) in an Antiques Roadshow-inspired appraisal.
Sponsor: Kiwanis Club.
Tickets: $15 in advance at Lavender Lane Floral and Collins & Company (both in Windsor).
More info: 970-686-0403 or 970-371-6213.
Buena Vista Holiday Home Tour
When: Dec. 10, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Details: Decorated trees at the historic Orpheum Theater, the Inn at Buena Vista and several homes on view. Home-owners and tour attendees welcome to join the post-tour reception with refreshments at Grace Church on West Main St.
Sponsor: Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce.
Tickets: $10 in advance and on tour day at the Chamber of Commerce (on U.S. 24, just south of the town’s only stoplight) and at Little House Antiques (111 South Cottonwood), and in advance at local banks.
More info: 719-395-6612, www.buenavistacolorado.org.
