To herald the holiday season, residents of New Bedford's historic neighborhoods will once again be opening their beautifully restored homes for the New Bedford Preservation Society's 16th Annual Holiday House Tour - December 1 and 2. The Society invites you to take advantage of this special opportunity to visit gracious New Bedford homes festively decorated for the season on the society's popular Saturday Candlelight Tour (4 to 8 p.m.) or on the Sunday afternoon tour (1 to 5 p.m.). History, architecture and design abound in the charming Victorian homes featured on this year's tour. The tours are self-guided with volunteer tour guides on hand to greet and guide you through each of the homes.

The Wamsutta Club, 427 County Street, New Bedford, will serve as headquarters for both tours. Here tour-goers will exchange their advance tickets for a tour brochure, detailing the tour route and properties. Tickets will also be on sale at the Club on the days of tour, priced at $20.

The Wamsutta Club, in cooperation with the New Bedford Preservation Society, has scheduled a pre-tour Holiday Brunch on Sunday, December 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. As a special holiday gift to those attending the tour, the Wamsutta Club and the Preservation Society will offer a discounted, combined admission for brunch and Sunday tour at $35 (all inclusive, tax and tip). Make your reservations early for this special combination ticket by calling the Wamsutta Club at 508.997.7431.

All are welcome to participate in the society's popular Holiday Raffle, held at the Club during tour hours. Local merchants, artists, nurseries, non-profit organizations, and restaurants donate generously to the raffle, where there is always an excellent chance of winning something special from the wonderful selection of beautiful gifts, books, art, antique items, handcrafts and gift certificates.

Single tour admission is $18 (advance purchase with a $3 discount for seniors (59+) and society members); all tickets will be $20 on the day of tour.

Advance tickets will be available mid-November at the following locations: in New Bedford at Elaine's T-shirts at the Black Whale, New York Shoe Repair and The Surrey Shoppe; Periwinkles in Fairhaven; Roseland Nursery, Acushnet; the Marion General Store; and in Dartmouth at Baker Books, Davoll's General Store, The Ultimate Touch Nail Salon, and the Woodhouse Shop in Padanaram.

The Holiday House Tour is the primary fundraising event for the New Bedford Preservation Society with proceeds furthering ongoing projects, such as New Bedford Re-Leaf, the Historic Marker Program, summer walking tours, cemetery tours, production of historic district walking tour brochures, lectures, and other efforts.

Please contact the New Bedford Preservation Society office 508-997-6425 or visit www.nbpreservationsociety.org for further information.