Get in the Christmas Spirit with These Holiday House Tours

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

‘Tis the season to be nebby! With the holiday season in full swing, a number of tours featuring some of Pittsburgh’s most richly decorated homes are taking place across the region. From Shadyside to Zelienople, here’s your chance to go inside some of Pittsburgh’s one-of-a-kind homes. 

Symphony Splendor Holiday House Tour 

For the first time ever, the annual Symphony Splendor Holiday House Tour is taking its gilded decorations north of Pittsburgh. Benefitting the Pittsburgh Symphony Association, this year’s tour will feature five palatial homes decked out for the holidays in Pine’s exclusive Lake MacLeod neighborhood. As befits a fundraiser celebrating the local arts, PSO musicians, as well as the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, will be entertaining audiences with live music in each home. There also will be vendors selling holiday gifts at the nearby Treesdale Community Center. The self-guided driving tours take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22. Tickets are $50 in advance or, if available, $60 on the day of the tour. Program books with a tour map of addresses will be issued to ticket holders and same-day buyers at registration. For tickets, visit here or call 412-392-3303.

Old Allegheny Victorian Christmas House Tour

Already sold out, the popular Old Allegheny Victorian Christmas House Tour in the Allegheny West neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s North Side invites visitors to experience a bygone era. Taking Place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 6, the event features a half-dozen restored Victorian homes — all decorated to celebrate a 19th century Christmas — as well as the historical Calvary United Methodist Church, which is renowned for its Louis Tiffany stained-glass windows. The event is hosted by tour guides who will explain Victorian holiday traditions, provide a history of Allegheny West (including some of its more famous residents) and give the background behind the different homes on the tour. Tickets are $50 each. For an extra cost at the end of the tour, participants may visit one of the world’s largest toy train museums. The private collection has hundreds of colorful train sets from the early 20th century, many of which roll through enchanting miniature villages.

Beaver Cookie Tour & Holiday House Tour

Sweeten the holiday season with the Beaver Cookie Tour & Holiday taking place on Saturday, Dec. 6. Benefitting the Beaver Area Chamber of Commerce, the cookie portion of the tour takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout scenic downtown Beaver, where participating businesses will hand out homemade cookies. The house tour leg of the celebration, which benefits benefit Saints Peter and Paul School, is from 4 to 8 p.m. and featured historical homes filled with holiday decor. Tickets are $30 each for the cookie or home tour, or $50 for both. 

Holiday Opera House Tour

Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Festival Opera. the first-ever Holiday Opera House Tour offers two tours featuring four fabulously decorated homes on Saturday, Dec. 6 in Treesdale. Musical performers also will be entertaining guests at each homes. The daytime tour takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers mimosas, light brunch fare and children’s activities. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be onsite to greet all the good little boys and girls at the last house on the tours. The cost for this event is $50 for adults and $10 for children ages 7-12. Children younger than 6 may participate for free.

The evening tour takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. and features festive hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. The cost for this portion of the celebration is $65 for adults and $10 for children ages 7-12. Children younger than 6 may participate for free.

Oakmont Christmas Home Tour

Explore the charming riverside town of Oakmont on the self-guided Oakmont Christmas Home Tour. Sponsored by the Oakmont Chamber of Commerce, the self-guided tour takes place from 12 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7 and features five homes, plus some festively adorned special additions found throughout the borough. After the tour, don’t forget to stop in a special Christmas market and reception at Amanda Lee Glassware, where there will be more than 20 local vendors selling goods. Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased here. 

Lawrenceville Cookie Tour

Explore the many locally owned retail shops and restaurants along Butler Street and Penn Avenue, all while munching on a sweet, with the annual Lawrenceville Cookie Tour taking place from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14. Businesses offering handmade goodies will have a gingerbread man displayed at the entrance. There also will be “Take a Break” stops, where participants can rest up from the free walking tour by enjoying a beer or coffee. 

Zelienople Annual House Tour

Come hungry to the Zelienople Annual House Tour beginning at noon on Saturday, Dec. 13. Besides a tour of decorated homes across the town in Butler County, which was founded in 1802 by German diplomat Dettmar Basse, the $30 ticket includes a luncheon sponsored by the Zelienople Historical Society. 

Crescent Hills Holiday House Tour

Explore the Crescent Hills neighborhood in Penn Hills from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. The tours starts at the Steel Goat Marketplace, where tourists can find cookies and other refreshments, a gift basket raffle and more than 100 local vendors. Arsenal Cider will also be onsite from 12 to 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 and all proceeds help resurface the Crescent Hills sports court for tennis, deck hockey, and soon, pickleball.