Tipp City's Christmas in The Village and Holiday Home Tour Set for 12/7

Day-trippers will discover a Currier & Ives-style hometown holiday celebration when they visit Tipp City Ohio on December 7, 2013.

The community's traditional Christmas In The Village and Holiday Home Tour this year boasts six historic tour homes, each with its own decorative accents and each featuring an "over the top" tabletop, created by ASID- and DSID-certified designers. Porches will also be a featured focal point of this year's design.

"The decorating and entertaining ideas alone are worth the trip to Tipp," said Christmas In the Village Chairman Heather Bailey, whose home will be featured on this year's tour. "We are excited about all the great additions for 2013. Between the unprecedented participation by downtown merchants and the new 'street flair' activity on Sixth Street, it will take all day to see, do, eat, and enjoy everything Tipp City has to offer."

Street Flair features a series of booths that offer everything from hot cider and other holiday treats to demonstrations of traditional blacksmithing to handmade crafts and gift items. In Tipp's historic (and recently renovated) downtown, merchants will offer discounts and special deals to home tour ticket holders. And those savings opportunities will extend beyond the December 7 tour date, so be sure to hold on to your ticket and return to Tipp City later in December and during the month of January. The Historical Society will present a history of this year's tour streets, Broadway and Sixth, and the library will feature entertainment throughout the tour day.

Miami County Master Gardeners will landscape the featured homes and Plein Air artists will be painting on the streets and in the tour houses. Paintings created during the tour day will be available for purchase at day's end. Also, downtown at Studio 14, a "homecoming" art show will spotlight the work of local artists.

At the will-call location (in the Hotel Gallery at the corner of Second and Main Streets), refreshments will be available, along with other displays. Visitors who purchase their tickets on-line must visit will-call in order to exchange their printed receipt for a ticket.

A classic trolley car will help move guests between the downtown and the tour area. Along the way, visitors may choose to stop at the Crossroads Church community center which will feature the Wright State University men's chorale, an antique clock and master woodworking display, as well as a unique presentation of the Sistine chapel digitally cast on the ceiling of the sanctuary.

But the centerpiece of the day will be the historic homes and their unique and inspiring seasonal decorations. Participating homes for 2013 are at 212 West Broadway, 304 West Broadway, 310 West Broadway, 324 West Broadway, 318 West Broadway and 327 South Sixth Street.

Tickets can be purchased at www.DowntownTippCity.org, www.TippChristmas.org. Advance tickets are also available at Coldwater Café, Harrison's Restaurant, Sugden Furniture, Greenfire Bistro, and Hock's Pharmacy. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the event. A limited number of preview night tickets will be sold at $50 each. Preview night will feature a special showing of the homes as well as refreshments for visitors and the chance to visit with designers and homeowners, up close. Only 50 preview night tickets will be sold.

The annual celebration is organized by a dedicated cadre of volunteers, with all proceeds benefitting programs of the Downtown Tipp City Partnership and Tipp Monroe Community Services. For more information about the celebration, please visit: www.TippChristmas.org or call 937-667-0883.