Description

Celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with the annual Christmas Tour of Homes in historic DeFuniak Springs. Set for Saturday, December 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the tour features over 15 beautiful homes, churches, and businesses.

After a two-year pause due to the pandemic, the tour kicks off a day-long series of festivities around Lake DeFuniak and its charming and vibrant downtown business district—a Main Street America community member.

Hosted by St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church, this year’s Christmas Tour of Homes highlights historic preservation and restoration of private homes and commercial and community buildings that are completed or in progress. Homes on tour are rich in history and represent various types of architecture, including a Florida block cottage with art deco touches; a craftsman-style bungalow overlooking the lake; a French Colonial home reminiscent of old New Orleans (a past tour favorite); a Colonial Revival dwelling in Georgian style; and a two-story Steamboat Victorian style that recently received one of five National Trust for Historic Preservation Grants (where homeowners once adorned each of its 18 rooms with a Christmas tree).

New this year, three downtown businesses are also on the tour route showcasing incredible, complete restorations of buildings from circa 1900.

The First Presbyterian Church (circa 1884) and St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church (circa 1890) are also on tour, along with St. Agatha’s Parish House and Vicarage which are two additional historic home properties—all located on Circle Drive around beautiful Lake DeFuniak.

Tickets are available for $25 per person the day of the tour and can be purchased at the DeFuniak Springs Visitor’s Center at 1162 Circle Drive beginning at 9:30 a.m.

After the Christmas Tour of Homes, the merriment continues with the Merry Main Street Mistletoe Market, the Festival of Trees, and Christmas Reflections (a holiday tradition of over 10 million lights displayed around Lake DeFuniak). Guests are also encouraged to visit the Walton-DeFuniak Library (the oldest operating library in the state of Florida, dating back to 1887) and the Walton County Heritage Museum (located in the former L&N railroad depot)—both in the town’s historic district. The Chautauqua Vineyards & Winery is another local attraction that any visitor to DeFuniak must visit, located near the interstate.

Presented in partnership with Visit South Walton, the event benefits St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church’s preservation efforts of its three historic structures dating back to the late 1880s. Tour sponsors include Clary Glenn Funeral Home, DeFuniak Landmarks, Earl Alford Construction Company, Forward DeFuniak, The Funky Pumpkin (Antiques, Vintage & Collectibles), Naylor Realty & Associates, and Paul Rushing Construction.

For more information on the event, call (850) 830-7663 or visit www.bit.ly/TOH-22