Historic homes open doors for holiday tours

Photo by BACH PRADOS

The Veazie-Pavy home in Opelousas

What better time to see some of the state’s beautiful, historic homes than when they’re decked out in their holiday best?

Travel to the Acadiana area Sunday, Dec. 4, and you can check out not one, but two holiday home tours.

In Opelousas, the state’s third-oldest city, the Historic Opelousas Holiday Home Tour runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. downtown. The tour is presented as a preservation project by Opelousas Main Street. Tour four historic houses ranging in style from Colonial Revival to Queen Anne, and hear the special stories about each.

Stops are the Perrault-Weaver home, 809 S. Court St.; the Rozas home, 209 N. Liberty; the Rudolph Adelbert Mayer home, 629 E. Bellevue; and the Veazie-Pavy home, 130 W. Vine St.

Tickets are $20, adults; and $10, children.

For more information, call [phone].

From there, head over to St. Martinville for the Christmas Tour of Homes sponsored by the St. Martinville Garden Club and headquartered at the Duchamp Opera House, 200 S. Main (at Port Street).

In addition to the opera house, visitors can tour the homes of Matt and Shawn Prima, 114 W. Hamilton; Clint and Tammy LeBlanc, 2016 Albert St.; John and Avis Gutekunst, 204 W. Bridge St.; and Mike and Lisa David, 1177D Joel Blanchard; and also the Courthouse Annex, St. Martin Street.

Tickets are $10 and the event runs from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, call [phone].

In New Orleans, the Preservation Resource Center is hosting its 36th annual Holiday Home Tour. The tour on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11, features seven Garden District homes, including that of Anne Montgomery, 2525 St. Charles Ave. The house was once owned by Charles H. Downman, king of the Krewe of Rex in 1907.

Tour headquarters is at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave.

Tickets are $40.

For more information, call [phone].

Other holiday happenings

University of Louisiana at Monroe Chamber Arts Brass Christmas Concert at Biedenharn Museum and Gardens, 2000 Riverside Drive, Monroe, Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Call [phone].

Yuletide on the Bayou, Bouligny Plaza, New Iberia, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 10. Gingerbread houses display, skits/songs, Christmas caroling and photos with Santa.

Call [phone].

The 12th annual Benton Christmas on the Square, Heritage Village Square, downtown Benton, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10.

Family activities, food, arts and crafts, parade at 3 p.m. and a visit from Junior and Willie Edwards of History’s Swamp People. Call [phone].

Creole Queen’s Cajun Children’s Holiday Tea with Papa Noel, Poydras Street at Riverwalk, New Orleans, 1:30 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 10 and 17. Storytelling and other children’s activities along with a classic tea. $49, adults; $34, children under 12.

Call [phone].

Waldorf Wonderland Lobby and Teddy Bear Tea, Roosevelt New Orleans. Hotel lobby’s extensive decorations include a 6-foot by 11-foot gingerbread village. Teas are Sunday, Dec. 4; Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11; and Saturday-Friday, Dec. 17-23. $54, adults; $34, children 10 and younger.

Call [phone].

Papa Noel Holiday Teas, the Ritz-Carlton, Canal Street, New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 4; Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11; and Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 17-24. $45.

Royal Teddy Bear Teas, Royal Sonesta Hotel, New Orleans. In addition to the regular teas, the hotel will bring its tea experience to patients at Children’s Hospital at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 12.

Another tea at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 16, will include more than 40 patients from Children’s Hospital and their families. Guests can donate a small, unwrapped gift for the young patients. [phone].

Monte the Lion’s Children’s Holiday Party, Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., New Orleans. 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 10 and 17. $50, adults; $36, children.

Call [phone].

Louisiana Travels is a biweekly column about travel destinations and events in Louisiana. Email items for Louisiana Travels to [e-mail] or [e-mail] or mail to Judy Bergeron, News Features assistant editor, The Advocate, 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810.