Malvernites Open Their Homes to Holiday Oglers

Maybe you look forward to pulling out your holiday decorations all year long or perhaps you're the type that scrambles to put them up hours before Santa (and your holiday guests) are expected to arrive.

Well, whether your Christmas tree looks like Martha Stewart's or Charlie Brown's, you can enjoy ogling and "Oo-ing and Ah-ing" over your neighhors' holiday decorations this Saturday, as the Malverne Civic Association holds the Candlelight Holiday House Tour.

The group is resurrecting a village tradition that has been dormant since 1996. From 5p.m. to 8p.m. on Dec. 11, the association will be leading groups on tours through five homes in Malverne that have been selected for their festive and beautiful holiday decorations.

Each tour will begin at the first house, the Malverne Historical and Preservation Society's Joseph L. Landers Memorial Restoration home. The house, which dates back to 1854, is filled with rare artifacts of the village's history and has been decked out for the holidays. A gorgeous Christmas tree stands in the living room with a vintage Schwinn bicycle placed at its foot. A walk through the home will take you back in time and fill you with holiday cheer.

Guests can indulge in some refreshments before moving on to the next leg of the tour. From there, they will be handed maps and booklets directing them to four different houses in the village that have been exquisitely trimmed for the season. Expect to see lavish displays of garland, brilliant lights, breath-taking angels, and an elaborate German feather tree.

You can also cross off some of the people on your shopping list as there will be vendors selling holiday gift items at the Historical House.  If you're looking for something to buy a big Malverne fan this year, the Civic will also have their signature Malverne hoodies and T-shirts on sale.

To take the tour, you must purchase a ticket for $25. All the proceeds from the tickets, T-shirts and hooded sweatshirt sales support the Malverne Civic Association. For more information, e-mail info@malvernecivic.org.