Historic Homes Tour opens doors again

The Historic Homes Tour comes around again on Dec. 1-2, showcasing five historic and imaginative residences from Gonzales' past that present the marvel of prosperity through preservation.

The tour is hosted by the Gonzales Historic Homes Association. Ticket sales for the event go toward the beautification and preservation of local historic projects. The Association is a non-profit organization which has invested more than $60,000 in Gonzales preservation efforts since its inception in 1996. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce.

The homes will be curated and decorated for the holiday season by their owners. It is a way for them to show not just pride in their properties, but pride in the historical district of Gonzales as a whole.

Historic homes included are:

• Old Gonzales College, built in 1851, 820 St. Louis Street. Owner: Constance Jaeggi
• T.J. Pilgrim House, built in 1877, 223 St. James Street. Owners: Rob and Lisa Brown
• Frank Vrazel House, built in 1925, 1006 St. Louis Street. Owners: John and Kathy Stone
• T.N. Matthews House, built in 1885, 829 Mitchell St. Owner: Daughters of the Republic of Texas
• Hugh Lewis House, built in 1889, 1606 St. Matthew Street. Owners: Al and Dawn O'Donnell

While in town, a number of additional Winterfest activities are available to partake in. Those include:

• Jingle Mingle, Nov. 30. 5-7 p.m., downtown;
• Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 1, 9 a.m., Gonzales Library;
• Santa's Market Arts and Crafts, Dec. 1, 10 a.m., downtown;
• Historic Organ Concert by Gregory Eaton, Dec. 1, 4 p.m., Presbyterian Church;
• Parade of Lights, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., downtown;
• Stars in the Village, Pioneer Village Living History Center, Dec. 1, 7, 8, 6-9 p.m. with live music, refreshments, wassail, campfire popcorn, Adults $8, children 6-12 $5.