Holiday fun in Historic Albany

Tour festively decorated homes, go caroling on a horse-drawn wagon, or shop for that one-of-a-kind present for that special someone: All of that and more are available during the holidays in historic Albany.

The 43^rd Annual Christmas Parlour Tour will be held 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday., Dec. 11 and offers a peek inside several homes and other buildings decked out for the Christmas season.

Tickets are now on sale here. Cost is $15. Ticket sales will be available online until 10 a.m. the day of the tour. Bring your e-receipt to the Albany Visitors Association office, 110 3^rd Ave. SE, after 1 p.m. on tour day and receive your wristband and ticket, which includes information about the homes and a map.

A limited number of tickets will be sold the day of the tour, for cash or check only. The AVA office opens at 1 p.m. on tour day.

Visit the homes in any order you choose, either by walking or driving. A trolley and horse-drawn wagon will be running during the tour, and they will stop at a few of the homes and other locations.

For more details about other fun activities, places to shop and eat, visit the AVA website at albanyvisitors.com.

Here’s a few of the fun and exciting activities awaiting you this holiday season:

Festival of Wreaths Auction: Nov. 14-18. The annual online Festival of Wreaths Auction is a huge fundraiser for the carousel. You can pre-register online and get a peek at some of the items. You can also see them in person at the carousel Sunday, Nov. 13. Bidding begins Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. and closes Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. Visit 32 Auctions to register, view items and bid.

Gobbler’s Revenge: Nov. 24. The 2022 Gobbler’s Revenge is back! Check this website and the Facebook page for updates about the popular road run. Proceeds benefit the Lions Club in their efforts to help meet growing medical needs in the mid-valley.

Shop & Dine Small Saturday: Nov. 26. Small Business Saturday is an opportunity to shop small and save big! Downtown Albany is proud of the many local, independent retailers who offer unique products you won’t find at a big box store. Many items are handcrafted and made in the Northwest. Restaurants offer specials too so be sure to fortify yourself for a great day of shopping!

Springhill Cellar’s Federweisser Festival: Nov. 25-27. For a quintessential Fall event, try this fun festival, which pairs new, still-fermenting Riesling (the Federweisser) with specially made bratwürst and Zwiebelkuchen (a sweet onion tart). Set in a charming barn and around a fire outside amid vines overlooking the Coast Range. The house band sets the tone for a lively Barn Dance Friday night.

Downtown Holiday Character Hunt: Dec. 1-Dec. 15. Stroll the sidewalks in Downtown Albany and find Holiday Movie Character posters on member businesses. Print your entry form from the ADA website to find up to 30+ posters. Receive one entry per character found. For contest information, go here.

Winter Wonderland Way: Dec. 2-3. Explore the holiday-themed walking path around Monteith Riverpark, shop the holiday marketplace in the Riverfront Community Center and enjoy some great food, fun games and festive music. Fun for all ages! Admission is $5 and includes a fun holiday glow item and keepsake picture. Advance registration required – visit City of Albany Parks or call 541-917-7760.

Christmas Storybook Land: Dec. 2-16. Visit Christmas Storybook Land at the Linn County Expo Center to relive your favorite childhood nursery rhymes, fairy tales and family movies in a magical indoor walk-thru forest! Entry is free, although commercially packaged food for the local food bank is gladly accepted.

Children’s Pioneer Christmas Party: Dec. 4. Celebrate the Christmas season the way the pioneers would have done in the 1800s by joining the festivities at the Monteith House. Children ages 5-16 will make pioneer Christmas crafts, decorate the Christmas tree at the Monteith House, sing carols, eat Christmas cookies, and have the option to ride on the horse-drawn wagon in the “Twice Around Downtown Christmas Parade” at 5 p.m. Tickets are required and sell out fast. Check here for tickets and more information.

The Downtown Twice Around Christmas Parade: Dec. 4. This fun event rolls through the streets of Historic Downtown Albany beginning promptly at 5 p.m., rain or shine. The parade route starts at the corner of Broadalbin Street and First Avenue, then circles downtown twice before moving to the spacious Two Rivers Market parking lot, where the tree lighting will be held 20 minutes after the parade ends. The parade is hosted by the Albany Downtown Association.

Caroling with the Monteith Historical Society: Dec. 9, 16, 17, 18. Ride a horse-drawn wagon through Albany’s beautiful historic districts while singing Christmas carols. This is a popular event and will fill up fast! Click here for tickets and information.

Additional Fun: For more exciting holiday activities, check out the AVA Calendar of Events here.

Photo by Camron Settlemier