Lewis Latimer House Museum, located at 34-41 137th St. (Photo: Ran Yan)
Nov. 21, 2019 By Kristen Torres
The holiday season has officially arrived!
Flushing’s annual HollyTour will open its doors to the public Sunday, Dec. 8 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Six iconic Queens landmarks are featured on the holiday tour. Most of the homes will be decked out in traditional holiday decorations — modeling the venues as they were during their first holiday season.
Family-friendly activities, performances, displays and refreshments will also be featured throughout the tour.
Guests can walk or take a dedicated shuttle to the venues, which includes the Bowne House, Flushing Town Hall, the Quaker Meeting House, Kingsland Homestead, Lewis Latimer House Museum and the Voelker Orth House.
The Bowne House was built in 1661, making it the borough’s oldest home. The Bowne family traces its roots back to the English countryside — and guests will be able to enjoy refreshments typical of that area.
At the Voelker Orth House, guests can experience a traditional German-American Christmas. Along with enjoying the seasonal décor, guest can browse through a gift and plant sale and munch on pfeffernüsse — tiny German spiced cookies — and hot mulled cider.
The Quaker Meeting House will feature folk singers and hot apple cider. Guests can walk the grounds and view the historic cemetery — the home itself dates back to 1694.
At the Lewis Latimer House — which was built in the 1800s — guests can participate in educational programs inside the venue’s Tinker Lab and view an on-site art exhibit.
The Kingsland Homestead tour includes a viewing of the new Flushing Garden Club exhibition and will allow guests to participate in a workshop on making pressed flower scrapbooks.
The home is one of the oldest surviving examples of houses that were common in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Flushing Town Hall will host the largest event of the tour with its annual Holiday Market. Local artists will be selling jewelry, paintings, ceramics, paper goods and clothing throughout the day.
The tour is run by the Queens Historical Society. All-inclusive tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. They can be bought online via the non-profit’s website, or in person at its headquarters at Kingsland Homestead, located at 143-35 37th Ave.
Kingsland Homestead, located at 143-35 37th Ave. (Photo: Matt Klise)
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One Comment
This is so cool! I had no idea about these historical houses. I just wanted to share a saving tip for any fellow Flushing residents who are looking to save on transportation. I was complaining about how much money I’ve been spending on Uber’s and a friend recommended saferides.org; it’s a non-profit and much more affordable than ride-shares. You can book rides in advance and it’s great for large groups. Just in case anyone else is tired of draining their funds with ride-sharing apps!