Lake Helen Christmas Home Tour

Kick off the holiday season by attending the Lake Helen Christmas Home Tour. Historic homes, churches and buildings are opened for the public to tour as a fund raiser for the community. All proceeds will go for needed equipment for our library and for improvement projects in our community. Each tour stop will be decorated for the holidays and there will be hosts and hostesses to give visitors the history of the building and its furnishings. You will feel like you have returned to Victorian times.

This year�s tour consists of 8 historic homes dated from the 1880�s to the 1920�s, 5 lovely old churches and 3 historic buildings. There will be 4 Victorian homes highlighted by original wood floors, paneling, and beautiful staircases. One of these homes, �Edgewood�, continues to be meticulously restored but you will be able to tour the first floor where Cathy Tallachsen from Lake Helen will present a vintage clothing display. In keeping with the holiday spirit, the owner will have roasted chestnuts and cider to purchase with the proceeds going back into a community project. In addition, three different styles of bungalows, one celebrating its 100th birthday, and a lovely large 1915 lakeside home with lots of history and new owners who have given it a new look will give tour goers a great variety.

Lake Helen�s Historic Museum in the restored City Hall and Shoestring Theater, originally Lake Helen�s black elementary school, will return to the tour with new exhibits and entertainment. Our historic churches will have special displays including a Nativity scene and an angel display. Mt. Olive AME Church will be selling their traditional sweet potato pies. Restored Hopkins Hall built in 1897 is our tour headquarters where you can purchase tickets, enjoy refreshments and entertainment and view a Victorian bedroom on the stage. Step outside to pick up transportation on Dave Butler�s train or Lake Helen�s city bus which will take you to the tour stops, or you may drive yourself. Refreshments, entertainment and transportation are all included in the price of the ticket.

While touring you will see antique cars at the homes and around town. Victorian clad ladies and gentlemen will be riding antique bikes, horses and horse-drawn carts and, new this year, Plein Air Artists will be at various homes.

The community of Lake Helen also invites you to enjoy lunch or something to eat after the tour. You can purchase a soup and sandwich lunch from 11:30-3:30 at the Congregational Church, or grab a pizza or sub from PaPa�s Pizza, or choose from a varied menu at the Creative Arts Cafe.

TICKETS ON SALE IN NOVEMBER

Tour Dates: December 3rd & 4th 12:30-5:30pm
Ticket Prices: $12 in advance, $15 at the door
For more information go to
www.LakeHelenChristmasHomeTour.com
or call Lou Gutshall at 386-228-9818.

TICKET SALES LOCATIONS

Lake Helen Library                                     The Muse Book Shop
221 N Euclid Ave., Lake Helen                 112 S Woodland Blvd., DeLand
386-228-1152                                             386-734-0278

Family Book Shop                                      Clark Family Campground
1301 N Woodland Blvd., DeLand             1440 E Minnesota Ave., Orange City
386-736-6501                                             386-775-3996