Holiday House Tour of Lewes to showcase 10 properties Dec. 2

The Lewes Historical Society’s Holiday House Tour of Lewes will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,  Saturday, Dec. 2, featuring 10 properties decorated for the holidays.

The diverse homes range from a tiny house showcasing creative use of space along with its collection of Victorian Christmas decorations, to a three-story, canalfront contemporary home decorated with art, antiques, and Italian wallpaper and crystal chandeliers.

Tour participants will also have the opportunity to experience one of the oldest houses in Lewes, which combines three houses that were moved to its current location in the 1960s. The oldest section dates from the late 17th century, partnered with two separate small homes built in the 18th century.

The Holiday House Tour of Lewes allows ticket-holders the rare occasion to tour the building that once housed the first bank in Lewes, now restored as close as possible to its 1850 original structure by the current homeowner.

The tour will also take visitors to a pre-1790 cottage with a chef’s kitchen, and to two Victorian homes, each restored to their 1902 glory.  Also on the tour is a 1950s-era home with European white oak floors. Properties also on the tour include the circa 1739 Maull House and the Children’s Beach House founded by Lydia Chichester du Pont.

Tickets are $35 and predicted to sell out before the event.

Each ticket will provide one-time admission to tour all homes during the designated hours.

A detailed guidebook with descriptions of each property on the tour will serve as an admission ticket and can be picked up at the Lewes Historical Society before the tour. Shuttle service will be available to each property for ticket holders.

In conjunction with the house tour, the society will hold its annual holiday village and market, free and open to the public, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on its Shipcarpenter Street campus. A preview will be held during the First Friday celebration from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1. The event will host a variety of specialty food vendors as well as a dozen local artisans selling holiday gifts.

Several local farms will be at the market on Saturday, bringing live alpacas and sheep, along with locally sourced products. LHS’s traditional greenery and holiday decorations sale will be held in the barn on both Friday night and Saturday. Award-winning chili will be available Saturday until it is sold out.

The holiday village and market is free to the public and will offer guests a chance to see the collection of historic buildings on the property for free.

For more information or to purchase a ticket, go to historiclewes.org.

This event is made possible by The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, Renewal by Andersen, and Delmarva Power, an Exelon Company.