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Date: 11/30/2023
WEST SPRINGFIELD — West Siders are hauling out the holly in preparation for the 27th annual “Holiday Tour of Homes” to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield.
The much-anticipated self-guided tour of festively decorated homes throughout town is slated for 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2.
“It’s a super magical event that really kicks off the holiday season,” said Sarah Calabrese-Dunphy, resource development director for the Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield. “We have generations of people come through every year.”
This year’s tour features six distinctive homes showcasing traditional and on-trend holiday decor. These dressed-up stunners will show the way for anyone feeling short on decorating inspiration.
“We try to have new homes on the tour every year, but sometimes we bring houses back because of their popularity,” Calabrese-Dunphy said.
Case in point: Ted and Barbara Hebert’s Pease Avenue home, a perennial favorite, is back on the docket this year. Additional stops on the tour include Carrie Blair, 123 Pine St.; Todd and Jess Cincotta, 45 Tiara Lane; Jeff and Janice Daly; 9 Lantern Lane; Matt and Jess Moskey, 1510 Morgan Rd.; and Bryan and Kelly Stockhaus, 280 Rogers Ave. Homeowners will be on hand to swap stories and share some of their holiday traditions.
Although this is a self-guided tour, Calabrese-Dunphy said a shuttle bus will run continuously throughout the day from the parking lot of the Irish Cultural Center to the Morgan Road property to enhance accessibility. Transportation assistance will also be provided at the Pease Avenue property due to its steep grade, she said.
“You don’t have to start at a specific point,” Calabrese-Dunphy added. “You can pick up the tour wherever you want.”
Continuing the tradition of highlighting a local landmark in conjunction with the Holiday Tour of Homes, this year’s spotlight will be on the Majestic Theater, which will be open for tours from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Visitors can purchase raffle tickets for a gift basket that includes two tickets to an upcoming performance at the Majestic Theater and dinner at Bella Napoli Restaurant.
Guidebooks, which serve as tour-takers’ ticket into each location, are being sold for $25 at the Boys & Girls Club and local businesses including Calabrese Market, Sorrento Restaurant, Cooper’s Gifts, Durocher Florist, Partners Restaurant and Gooseberry Farms. They can also be purchased online for pickup at the Boys & Girls Club before Dec. 2. Guidebooks will be also be sold for $30 at the door on event day.
The guidebooks include a brief history and photo of each property on the tour and “a map to help you plan out your route,” Calabrese-Dunphy said. She said they have become collector’s items for many past tour participants, including herself.
“It’s a part of our town’s history,” Calabrese-Dunphy said. “It’s fun to look back on [previously featured] homes and see how they’ve changed.”
The event is a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club, which offers a variety of programs for youth from ages 2.9 to 18 years of age. It “helps to raise critical funds to provide vacation week scholarships for our members,” Calabrese-Dunphy said. “We never turn away a child for their [family’s] inability to pay. We try to help as many children as possible.”
Children that attend the Boys & Girls Club during school vacation weeks have access to STEM and art programs, a technology lab — even an “American Ninja Warrior”-inspired obstacle course, among other offerings.
“Last year we provided more than $51,000 in scholarships,” Calabrese-Dunphy said.
In lieu of the traditional lunch at Storrowton Tavern, tour organizers have partnered with West Side Bar & Grill at 95 Elm St., which will donate 10% of its food sales on Saturday afternoon to the Boys & Girls Club.
Calabrese-Dunphy also extended a special thank you to sponsor Kelley & Katzer Real Estate, which helped to secure some of this year’s tour hosts.
“They’ve been wonderful,” she said.
For more information or to purchase guidebook tickets, visit www.wsbgclub.org.