Enjoy the sights and sounds of an old-fashioned holiday celebration in Historic Downtown Albany. The Christmas Porch Tour offers a festive look at a few of our beautiful historic homes decked out in their Christmas best in a self-guided walk or drive-by event bursting with bright, holiday-wrapped fun.

The tour will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13.

About a dozen houses will be on this year’s tour and most are within the Monteith Historic District. Albany has more than 800 historic structures within its four nationally registered historic districts.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, participants are asked to not enter the homes or go onto the porches, and to wear masks where appropriate, and enjoy the homes from the sidewalk or the comfort of their vehicles. Because of restrictions, there will be no horse-drawn wagon or trolley rides.

But while restrictions may be in place, there is still plenty of fun to be had.

In addition to seeing beautiful homes, participants can take part in a contest for prizes while they are touring, including a large gift basket courtesy of the Monteith Society, and four $25 gift certificates to Downtown Albany businesses. All you have to do is download or pick up an entry form along with your ticket, then as you visit each home find a poster associated with each house and write down the Christmas icon that’s at that location. After filling out the form, return it to the Albany Visitors Association, 110 3^rd Ave. S.E., and put it into the mail slot. Posters will remain up only during the tour. Deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14. Make sure to have your contact information on the entry form, and winners will be contacted. It’s as simple as that!

Where do you get a ticket? Tickets and contest forms will be available in this blog beginning Friday afternoon before the tour, Dec. 11, or at the AVA office beginning at 1 p.m. the day of the tour. There is no cost for the tickets or contest, but participants are strongly urged to make a donation. Funds made from the tour are used by the Monteith Society to help run and maintain the non-profit Monteith House Museum, so give generously! Watch this blog for a donate button, or you can give to the volunteers at the AVA on tour day.

An added sprinkle of fun this year is that some of the houses are participating in the Night Time Magic Holiday Lights Contest. Take time after the tour to visit the other homes in this contest, then go online to vote for your favorite! Stay tuned for that link!

Other highlights on tour day:

• The Monteith House will be lit by candlelight. The house will not be open, but musicians will perform on the porch for part of the tour.
• Musicians will be playing at various locations.