Strasburg's many historic buildings and idyllic homes are among the area's most unique attractions. During any season, groups of tourists drive from as far as New York to vacation in the picturesque town, surrounded by hundreds of acres of postcard-worthy farmland. But during the holiday season, Strasburg adopts a particularly festive atmosphere as community members decorate their homes and businesses for Christmas. Every December, the Strasburg Heritage Society highlights specific buildings in the area through its Holiday Home Tour.

The 13th annual Holiday Home Tour will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour will showcase seven unique buildings in Strasburg Borough, and each home will feature extravagant holiday decorations. This year's tour will highlight both historic locations and modern dwellings, as well as three local churches. Proceeds will benefit the Strasburg Heritage Society and its ongoing efforts to preserve local history.

Tickets are available to purchase online and at Main Street Antiques, 2 W. Main St., Strasburg, and Specked Hen, 141 E. Main St., Strasburg, until the day of the event. On the day of the tour, tickets may be purchased at First Presbyterian Church, 101 S. Decatur St., Strasburg. To buy a ticket online, visit https://strasburgheritagesociety.org.

On the day of the tour, a variety of craft vendors will be stationed in First Presbyterian Church, and members of local Girl Scout troops will sell breakfast and lunch items. The church will also hold a holiday greens sale and a silent auction, which will feature gift cards and various items donated by local businesses.

This year, the Holiday Home Tour will highlight three homes that have not previously participated in the tour. The event will feature some buildings that date to as early as the 1700s and 1800s, as well as recently constructed homes with modern architecture styles. One stop on the tour, a property that includes a historic barn formerly used to store tobacco, will feature an elaborate, large-scale model train display.

"Homeowners always really enjoy the tour; they get so many visitors who are so happy to see the houses and ask the owners questions," said Laura Deevy, Strasburg Heritage Society member and chairperson of the Holiday Home Tour. "Some people are hesitant to open their homes at first, but they're always glad they did by the end of the day."

In previous years, the tour exclusively featured homes located in Strasburg's historic district downtown. This year, the Strasburg Heritage Society decided to include several stops outside of the town to highlight areas that have not been featured before.