This month, local businesses and private homes will be decking their halls for the Cutchogue Holiday House Tour and Oysterponds Historical Society Holiday House Tour.
The self-guided Cutchogue tour, now in its second year, will take place Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., organizer Joyce Barry said. It features stops at eight locations, including The Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast, Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard Bed and Breakfast, designer Conni Cross’ private cottage and the new North Fork Designer Holiday Show House.
“It’s a good opportunity for people to really see North Fork living,” said Barry, who owns The Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast. “It’s the only time of years we really open our homes to the public and of course they’re decorated to the nines.”
Each location on the tour has teamed up with a local winery, restaurant or business to offer wine tastings, hors d’oeuvres and desserts, Barry said. The event also features several Toys for Tots dropoff spots.
The end of the Cutchogue Holiday House Tour will be marked by a 4:30 p.m. tree lighting on the grounds of Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council. Tickets cost $75 each and can be purchased by calling Ms. Barry at 631-734-8539. Advance purchasing is required and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council and North Fork Family Counseling, she said.
Farther east, the self-guided Oysterponds Historical Society Holiday House Tour will take place Saturday, Dec. 13, from noon to 4 p.m. During the event, guests can step inside nine private homes in Orient, including a converted 1938 firehouse and an 1830 Main Road house owned by Janice and Ed Caulfield.
“The view is spectacular and the house is really nice,” event chairwoman Catherine Chaudhuri said of a 1932 Craftsman-style residence also on the tour.
The event also features five public buildings, including the Orient Country Store and Old Point School House, where the Beach Plum Christmas Shop will be open. Tickets, available at Orient Congregational Church beginning at 11:30 a.m. the day of the event, are $30 for the public and $25 for historical society members.
All proceeds benefit the Oysterponds Historical Society, Chaudhuri said.
