Story and photos submitted by Christmas in Montrose.
Since its inception several years ago, the Take a Bite Out of Christmas Tours have increased in popularity. As a result, updates have been planned as well as additional tours, which include new locations. Depending on which tour you choose, you will experience a different mode of transportation as well as learning a piece of the history of Montrose at each stop. Two of the tours will feature a delicious catered meal and the others will feature culinary treats along the way. Those participants lucky enough to get tickets for one of the tours are encouraged to dress in their most festive holiday attire or period costume for their journey. As they travel from one spot to another, they will have the opportunity to experience the lovely homes and businesses decorated for the holidays and those which are a part of the “Light Up Montrose” contest.
What hasn’t changed is how quickly the tours sell out! While some tickets are still available, tickets for the 6:00 PM Snowflake Express Tour are sold out, and there are only three tickets left for the Sugar Plum Saunter Tour at 5:00 PM. Don’t be one of those disappointed individuals because they didn’t get their tickets soon enough. You must be 21 years old for the ticket-only Friday night tours on December 6th. Tickets are required for the visitors who will be welcomed by the homeowners, given some historical facts about their homes, entertained with music, and served delicious food.
The History Mystery Christmas Tour begins at 5:00 PM at the Historical Society Museum where participants will step back in time and become one of Montrose’s famous citizens of the 1850’s. Encouraged to dress as a Montrose citizen of the past, they will stroll up and down the avenue to hear stories, learn about the town’s history, and gather clues to solve the historical “who did it” mystery. This is a strolling tour so dress appropriately. Participants will enjoy a pot pie dinner by Busy Bee Café served at the Temperance Table Restaurant.
Silver Bells Church Tour with one tour at 4:00 PM and one at 5:00 PM which begins at the Montrose Bible Conference where parking is available. Participants will hop on the “Church Bus” and experience church in a whole new way! They will take a ride through the local church history and visit several of the area churches and former meeting grounds, while listening to stories of history, mystery, and more. A variety of hosts will walk participants through the history of the buildings, their parishioners, and rich beginnings as well as experiencing an old-fashioned tent meeting. New with the tour this year includes a sit-down dinner and ends at the RL Torrey home back at the Bible Conference.
Each of the five tours is limited to 25 and all tours are a rain or snow event so participants should dress warm and appropriately for the weather. Participants on the tours are invited to an optional stop at the historic “Relic” on Church Street at the end of their tour. Watch for more details on the Christmas in Montrose Facebook page and website and be prepared because tickets sell out quickly. Thanks to a host of volunteers and generous sponsors, Christmas in Montrose has grown each year but continues to maintain the old-fashioned Christmas Village atmosphere.