Lake Bluff Historic Christmas Home Tour Returns

The will hosts its second historic Christmas Home Tour, taking participants inside five homes decorated for the holidays and offering a glimpse into Lake Bluff’s past Frisday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3.

• See related story from 2010: Vliet Museum Hosts First-Ever Home Tour

The tour was initiated by the Lake Bluff History Museum in coordination with It's a Wonderful Life . . . in Lake Bluff, a fun-filled start to the holiday season sponsored by the museum, Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce, Village of Lake Bluff and a group of local merchants. The museum will also host visits with Santa, from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 3) as part of It’s a Wonderful Life . . .”

Homes on the tour represent a mix of old and new. The oldest dates back to the 1880s and was built by Ben Cloes, son of Lake Bluff’s first settlers, using bricks from the family brickyard. Three other homes, built in the early 20th century, include a stately colonial built during the World War I era; a 1920s jazz age cottage decorated by its current owner; and a home originally built in art deco style in the1930s and recently rebuilt for 21st century living.

The fifth home was designed to reflect the 1890s style of the home it replaced and the interior highlights the personal style of the decorator owner.

This year, holiday items including wooden angels, jingle bell ornaments and table top wire trees will be offered for sale in two of the homes.

Tickets for the event cost $35 per person and are sold for one of two time slots each day: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased online at ChristmasLakeBluff.com, or at the following locations:

• The Lake Bluff History Museum during museum hours (1-4 p.m. Tuesday or Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at , 8 E. Scranton Ave., Lake Bluff.

• , 825 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest.

The tour starts at the Lake Bluff History Museum, 127 E. Scranton Ave., Lake Bluff, where participants receive a booklet, tour agenda and map before beginning their self-guided tour.

For information, call (847) 482-1571 or e-mail events@lakebluffhistory.org