BOTKINS — The Botkins Beautification Club will hold its 12th annual Christmas Tour of Homes on Sunday, Dec. 2, from 3 to 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 each and free for children under 12 years of age. They are available now at four locations in Botkins, including Ask Amy Staging, located at 212 W. State St.; Country Lane Crafts and Home Accents, at 17009 Heiland-Kies Road; Finishing Touches Flowers and More, at 231 S. Main St.; and Jenny’s Designs Flowers and Gifts, at 305 E. State St. All pre-sale tickets are non-refundable.
A total of four homes will be included in the event and, for two homeowners, this year’s tour is a family affair.
Deb Wagner and Megan Schlater are across-the-street neighbors on Sidney-Freyburg Road, as well as mother and daughter. Their respective homes will be two stops on the tour.
“We (went on the tour) last year and just really enjoyed everybody’s holiday decorations,” Schlater said. “It was a really neat experience and it got us into the Christmas spirit.”
“It was fun to see all the different décor,” Wagner added. “The amount of time people put into it is interesting; some people really like to go all out. It was a lot of fun.”
Wagner, originally from Sidney, has lived in Botkins since 1987, where Schlater was born and raised. Two years ago, Schlater and her husband, Ryan, built a house on the plot of land across the street from Wagner’s home.
The women said they have shared a love of decorating throughout the years.
“That’s something we’ve always liked doing together,” Schlater said.
Schlater, who owns a home décor/crafting business called Blessed and Distressed, said she prefers “farm house, rustic-type looks” when it comes to decorating.
“I’m going to try to stick with that theme through the holidays, too,” Schlater said.
“We have similar tastes,” Wagner added.
Wagner said she didn’t feel the need to splurge on too many new decorations, as she has plenty of things to use from past holidays.
”I’ve acquired a lot of decorations over the years,” she said. “But I did pick up a couple of things, and Megan made several things that were really cute, so I got ahold of those, as well.”
“I bought a few things,” Schlater said. “With moving, some of my decorations fit right in the old house, but I wanted some new things for this house,” Schlater said.
According to Botkins Beautification Club member Michele Meyer, last year’s Christmas Tour of Homes attracted 128 attendees, touring four homes.
Along with the Schlater and Wagner homes, this year’s tour will include stops at the home of Ed and Elaine Limbert, and Kevin and Kristi Lunz.
All proceeds from the tour go toward the projects orchestrated by BBC to “beautify” the Village of Botkins.
Past projects range from financing the completion of the downtown Veterans Park to purchasing new Christmas decorations that completed the downtown streetscape renovation project.
Other projects benefiting from the tour proceeds have included landscaping for all corporation limit flower beds, and seasonal utility pole banners hanging throughout the village.
“Our next project is a joint venture,” Meyer said in an email to SDN. “We are hoping to line our village’s utility poles with banners saluting veterans who are special to our residents.”
This project will consist of a combined effort between BBC funds, and possible grant awards, as well as contributions from sponsoring families in order to salute the village’s veterans, each of whom will each have a banner with their military photo, name, years of service, and military branch listed.
