Mercer Co.'s ‘Holiday House Tour’ Is Back After A Pandemic Break

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Trenton's Old Mill Hill Society is bringing back the annual Mill Hill Holiday House Tour after taking a pandemic break in 2020.

This year’s tour, “Holiday Walkabout” will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“We didn’t want another year to pass without a holiday house tour so we had to come up with a creative way to celebrate the holidays in our beautiful neighborhood. The tour has been a holiday staple in the greater Mercer County area for years,” Mill Hill Holiday House & Window Tour Co-Chair, Terry West, said in a statement.

This year’s tour is slightly different from previous years. The tour will be all outdoor for 2021 unless homeowners welcome guests inside. “Holiday Walkabout” will focus primarily on the first-floor room that faces the street, the exterior of the home, and for some, an area in front of the home where guests can relax, mingle, and enjoy refreshments.

Started 55 years ago, The House Tour is Mill Hill’s signature event and a Trenton tradition. Approximately 20 homes in the neighborhood will display special decorations through their front windows and/or on their exteriors, with some homeowners hosting visitors with holiday music, refreshments, and insightful conversation on their stoops and sidewalks.

Mill Hill’s nineteenth-century streetscape is extremely interesting with homes boasting a variety of architectural styles, sizes, and ages.

“We are excited to share the beauty and history of Mill Hill at this special time of year,” said Michelle Ruess, president of the Old Mill Hill Society. “This is always a festive way to kick off the holiday season.”

The tour is organized by the Old Mill Hill Society and the residents. It has played an integral part in the restoration of the neighborhood. Money raised by the tour funds historic preservation grants that assist Mill Hill homes and business owners in maintaining the landmark standards.

Roughly 500 people from the region are expected to attend Mill Hill's Holiday House and Window Tour this year, the organization said.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance through www.TrentonMillHill.org or on the day of at Artworks.

For more details, contact Terry West at grassrootswest@gmail.com.