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Preservation Williamsport previews 26th annual Victorian Christmas tour
Summary
Preservation Williamsport’s Victorian Christmas committee told council the event will feature eight homes and six churches, highlight adaptive reuse projects and benefit local businesses; organizers said the event has grown from 150 visitors to more than 1,500 and draws out‑of‑state visitors.
Members of the Victorian Christmas Committee of Preservation Williamsport presented the organization’s plans for the 26th annual Victorian Christmas tour and related weekend events.
Mary Holstein, speaking for the committee, said the tour began in 1999 as a candlelit tour of four houses and has grown to attract more than 1,500 visitors in recent years, including attendees from dozens of Pennsylvania counties and other states. The 2025 tour will include eight homes, six churches and an artisan market that highlights local artists and nonprofit programs, the committee said.
Holstein and founding member Nan Young emphasized the event’s preservation focus and cited the 2016 City of Williamsport historic structures survey showing hundreds of historically significant buildings in the city. Examples on this year’s tour include industrial conversions and the Raleigh House Museum, the committee said. Organizers noted the event’s economic spillover to local hotels and downtown businesses during the weekend.
The committee distributed complimentary tickets and a copy of the presentation to council. Council members thanked the group and encouraged continued outreach to younger volunteers.
