Explore Buffalo, an organization dedicated to offering tours of the city’s most unique architecture and attractions, recently announced holiday tours to help you celebrate the season!
Home Tour
Explore Buffalo will host a special Holiday Home Tour event from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15. Tour a beautifully decorated home on one of Buffalo’s most exclusive streets, Chapin Parkway. Also featured on the 2016 Twilight Tour of Homes in June, the home of the Eoannou family will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland!
This magnificent mansion is decorated with vintage and eclectic holiday decorations, including a Christmas sleigh from the AM&A’s department store. Drink samples from Black Squirrel Distillery will add to the festive atmosphere of this home tour. Located close to Elmwood Avenue, start off your evening in the city with some holiday cheer and spirit!
The home is located at 150 Chapin Parkway, Buffalo. General admission is $15, or $10 for Explorer Pass holders. No interior photography is permitted.
Advance reservations are encouraged but not required for this tour. Tickets will be sold at the door. There are two ticket options: 4 to 6 p.m. or 6 to 8 p.m. Please come at any time during the two-hour period; you do not need to come at exactly 4 or 6 p.m. No entry to the house will be allowed prior to 4 p.m. Touring the house will generally take between 30 and 45 minutes. Only the first floor will be open for this tour. Shoe covers will be provided and will be required inside. Ample on-street parking is available on Chapin Parkway.
Church Bus Tours
Join Explore Buffalo for tours of beautiful churches in Buffalo and Lockport during the holiday season when the churches are decorated for Christmas. Spanning a wide variety of architectural styles, spectacular houses of worship are found in every neighborhood, reminding us of the devotion of the surrounding communities that enabled such magnificent structures to be built. At each church you’ll learn about the history of the congregation, the church building and design elements such as stained glass windows in addition to admiring the festive decorations.
Explore Buffalo is offering two different tours on two dates – Dec. 28 and Jan. 7. Lunch is included on each tour along with a donation to each church visited. Reservations are required as space is limited on the bus. General admission for each tour is $75, or $70 for Explorer Pass holders. Reservations can be made at www.explorebuffalo.org or by calling (716) 245-3032. For check-in, please print your confirmation email or show it on your phone. The tours will be approximately six hours in length.
Some walking at each church stop will be required as part of the tour. As winter weather may slow travel at times, please plan on the possibility of the tour taking up to an additional half-hour in case of inclement weather. The tours proceed rain or shine, and cameras are encouraged!
Dec. 28 Itinerary
Time: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Meet: Villa Maria College, 240 Pine Ridge Road, Buffalo
Lunch at Chef’s. Lunch options must be selected in advance from the following: 1. Small spaghetti parmesan, 2. Meat & cheese lasagna, or 3. Chicken Caesar salad.
Guests will board the bus at Villa Maria College, then tour the Villa Maria Convent Chapel and St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy followed by lunch at Chef’s Restaurant. The tour continues with stops at Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church and Trinity Episcopal Church.
Please park in the Villa Maria College parking lot which is in back of the Villa College Library, Lot A. The library faces Pine Ridge Road. You can access the lot either directly from Pennock Street which is north of the college, or from the main entrance on Pine Ridge Road. Once you turn onto the campus from Pine Ridge, make a right turn and go under the arch between the main building and the library.
Jan. 7 Itinerary
Time: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Meet: First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Circle, Buffalo
Lunch at Shamus Restaurant, Lockport. Lunch options must be selected in advance from the following: 1. Turkey club sandwich with bacon, lettuce and tomato, 2. Beef-on-weck sandwich, or 3. Vegetable hummus wrap with spring greens, tomato, cucumber, carrot, red onion and maple vinaigrette.
Guests will meet at and tour First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, followed by Assumption Roman Catholic Church and then lunch at Shamus Restaurant, Lockport. After lunch you will tour First Presbyterian Church of Lockport and SS. Columba-Brigid Parish in Buffalo. Parking is available in the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church.
For more information, please visit www.Explorebuffalo.org or call (716) 245-3032.