Christmas in Salem House Tour in Willows neighborhood Nov. 30-Dec. 2

SALEM – Christmas in Salem, thought to be the nation’s oldest holiday house tour, wanders across town to the eclectic Salem Willows neighborhood for three days of quaint cottages by the sea, decorated in holiday splendor.”Christmas in Salem – Seaside” will welcome visitors to a Friday night candlelight preview tour, up to nine private home tours as part of the Saturday and Sunday open house, and a host of holiday activities both in the Willows neighborhood and around Salem.This year marks the 33rd anniversary of Christmas in Salem and will feature up to 9 private homes and cottages dating from the Victorian era into the early 20th Century. All will be decorated for the season by a selection of area interior designers, florists, garden clubs, and talented individuals.Christmas in Salem has become far more than a house tour. It’s now a citywide event for both residents and out-of-town visitors. There are wine tastings and a holiday tea, concerts, hotel discounts, and a talk on the Salem Willows neighborhood – known historically for its seaside, rejuvenating characteristics over the past two centuries.Always held the first weekend in December, Christmas in Salem is the perfect time for lunch or dinner with friends, not to mention shopping. You’ll find holiday decorations for sale at the Salem Garden Club boutique and the welcome mat out – along with discounts for tour goers – at many local attractions, museums, restaurants and retailers. The complimentary trolley that takes visitors from downtown parking locations to the tour route also passes close to these sites as well.This year will feature a holiday concert at the House of the Seven Gables on Saturday, Dec. 1. You will be able to conclude a festive day with a historic holiday concert with O’Carolan Etcetera in a festive atmosphere. The cost will be $10 and will benefit both Historic Salem, Inc. and the House of the Seven Gables.The popular Preview Candlelight Tour (for advance ticket holders only) will be held on Friday, Nov. 30 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and will feature three homes by the sea. On Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2 from 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. all sites will be open for tours.Christmas in Salem is presented by Historic Salem, Inc. an advocacy group dedicated to preserving Salem’s historic resources and educating the community to their value. The historic house tour and other fundraising efforts of Historic Salem, Inc. are the primary source of funds for the restoration of the National Historic Landmark, The Nathaniel Bowditch House.If You Go? Advance ticket are now available. Prices are $25 each for Historic Salem, Inc. members and $30 each for the general public. Tickets may be purchased in advance by visiting www.ChristmasinSalem.org or by calling Historic Salem, Inc. at 978-745-0799. Deadline for advance ticket sales is Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. Tickets for the house tours can be purchased at the Bentley School, 125 Memorial Drive, on Dec. 1 and 2 for $35 each.