NEW BEDFORD PRESERVATION SOCIETY ANNOUNCES DATE OF 18th ANNUAL HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR:

Heralding in the holiday season, the residents of New Bedford’s historic neighborhoods will once again open their beautifully restored homes for the New Bedford Preservation Society’s 18th Annual Holiday House Tour - December 5th Candlelight Tour (4 to 8 p.m.) and December 6th Afternoon Tour (1 to 5 p.m.). Enjoy the spirit of the yuletide at this holiday event - a must for architecture and history enthusiasts!

Experience the history and appeal that New Bedford is noted for as you visit historic homes that have been decked in festive holiday décor; greetings from characters in period costume; view a diverse collection of nativity sets; and see if you can spot the famous Victorian Peppermint Pigs! For a sneak peak of the homes that will be featured on this tour, and for more information on the peppermint pig tradition, visit www.nbpreservationsociety.org.

The Society is excited to collaborate with the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum to provide tour goers with a special visit to view their holiday collections on display, including an orchid exhibit, ivy topiaries, art glass from the New Bedford Glass Museum, and holiday ornament collections.

Both tour dates start at the Wamsutta Club, 427 County Street, tour headquarters, where a pre-tour brunch will be held on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., along with a holiday raffle of gifts, art, antiques and handcrafted items. Discounted advance tickets ($19 with $2 discount to Society members) will go on sale mid-November at the following locations: Elaine's at the Black Whale, New York Shoe Repair (for credit card sales), The Surrey Shoppe, Periwinkles, Baker Books, Davoll's General Store, The Ultimate Touch, The Woodhouse Shop, Roseland Nursery and the Marion General Store. At the door, ALL tickets will be priced at $23. Cost of the Sunday brunch is $15 (all-inclusive, tax and tip), and reservations may be made by calling the Wamsutta Club at 508.997.7431.

The Annual Holiday House Tour is the Society’s signature fund-raising event. All proceeds benefit the work of the Society in its efforts to sustain and promote historic preservation in New Bedford through such projects as the historical building marker program, historical cemetery tours, walking/trolley tours, the Re-Leaf tree-planting program, the newly formed scholarship fund, the publication of self-guided walking tour brochures, lectures, and more.

For more information, please call the New Bedford Preservation Society office (388 County Street, New Bedford) at 508-997-6425 or visit www.nbpreservationsociety.org.