The Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives Tour of Homes Committee would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the Tour of Homes such an incredible success! We had a record year, raising over $21,000 for our general operating fund, and we couldn't have done it without your support.
A special thank you to the homeowners for showcasing their homes on the tour!
The Tour of Homes Committee & Decorators
Merchants, Contributors, Sponsors, & Ticket Sellers
Thank you to the myriads of volunteers who staffed the homes even though not members of the museum. Thank you to the local businesses who placed advertisements in our ticket, donated door prizes, and provided samples. Finally, thank you to the community and tour-goers; without your support and enthusiasm, the tour would not have been such a success!
Please check back again next year to join us for our 21st tour!
The volunteers of the Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives are pleased to announce that the Annual Christmas Tour of Homes will be returning in November of 2024. We’re so excited to show you what we have in store!
The 2024 Christmas Tour of Homes is scheduled to take place from Friday, November 15ᵗʰ to Sunday, November 17ᵗʰ. Tickets will be for sale in advance on this website, at 14 East St., or through participating retailers, and for sale during the tour itself at 14 East St. and at each of the four participating homes. Tickets will be for sale for $25 each.
Please be aware that the homes are not within walking distance this year.
The Tour of Homes Committee kindly asks that tour-goers remove their shoes while in the homes. In an effort to reduce single-use plastic, we ask that you bring your own reusable shoe bag.
The Aylmer-Malahide Museum Volunteers' annual Christmas Tour of Homes began in 2002. This fundraiser was developed to benefit the museum's operation and raise awareness of local businesses. It is now a Christmas tradition for many locals and visitors from all over Ontario and beyond. Four unique, interesting and/or historical homes are chosen in the Aylmer Area. These homes are decorated for Christmas and then opened for participants to tour. This is a major fundraiser for the museum. Many volunteer hours and support from homeowners and local businesses go into making this an annual success.
Show your Tour of Homes ticket to market staff during their Christmas market on November 16th (8:00 am to 3:00 pm, 516 John Street North) to be entered into a draw for a gift card!
Tickets to the 2024 Christmas Tour of Homes will be $25 each.
Children (aged 12 and under) may attend the tour for free and do not require a ticket.
During the tour, tickets will be for sale at the museum or at each of the four participating homes.
The current homeowners purchased this property in 2015 as an 80+ year-old, small, single-family farmhouse. Extensive remodelling and decorating transformed the old farmhouse into their home. A new addition of a two-storey attached dwelling in 2016, for the homeowner’s parents, has created two homes to be used by generations of the family to come. The property has been upgraded with extensive gardens, trees, a pool and swim spa, and the much-loved wood-fired pizza oven.
Built in 1870, this century home has undergone major renovations prior to the current owners’ purchase in 2021. Sitting on six acres, this property boasts a large barn which provides much-needed storage and a home for laying hens. In the backyard, check out the lovely pond and volleyball court. This home is the perfect venue for hosting family and friends.
This home is tucked away on a serene crescent, with sweeping views of trees, a creek, and parkland stretching behind it. Since 2016, the homeowners have been infusing their space with a minimalist, clean design that shines throughout the light-filled interior. The combination of concrete countertops and solid maple cabinets adds a touch of natural elegance. With a screened-in porch and an outdoor pool, the home offers the perfect retreat for all seasons.
This raised bungalow, with its dramatic stone block façade, was built in 1994 by Mark Minor Homes. The current owners purchased the home in 2023. The lower level of the home features a large family room and adjoining games room. The upper level features a large living room, three bedrooms, and an eat-in oak kitchen. The beautiful two-tier deck allows for a bird’s eye view of the backyard.
50928 Lyons Line
When the owners of this home married 17 years ago, the two started decorating their first house with lights, slowly growing their display every year. With an ever-growing display, they are currently sitting at just over 50,000 lights on the property. This comes with a good mixture of homemade items (from hand-painted wooden displays to other DIY projects) to over 550 vintage blow moulds (the hard plastic figurines from as far back as the 1960s).
Please note that this home is not open for viewing. Enjoy the wonderful display of lights outside of the home.
14 East Street
Visit the museum for the chance to win a free door prize!
Gift Basket Raffle
Six tickets for $5
Tickets for our gift basket raffle will also be available for purchase. Buy six tickets for $5 and put them toward any baskets of your choice! Consider trying your luck and treating yourself or a loved one to a wonderful gift.
The museum is unable to serve alcohol this year. We apologize for any inconvenience.
For each annual Tour of Homes, volunteers with the Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives assemble a series of gift baskets to raffle off to tour-goers. Buy six tickets for $5 and put them toward any baskets of your choice! Consider trying your luck and treating yourself or a loved one to a wonderful gift.
Winners have been drawn and contacted. Thank you so much to everyone who purchased tickets!
Basket Theme #1: Scratch Tickets
Winner: Tina G.
Basket includes:
The winner of this basket must be over the age of 18 to claim the prize.
Basket Theme #2: Spa Day
Winner: Raquel W.
Basket includes:
Basket Theme #3: Date Night
Winner: Ron S.
Basket includes:
The winner of this basket must be over the age of 19 to claim the prize.
Basket Theme #4: Basket of Booze
Winner: Jackie M.
Basket includes:
The winner of this basket must be over the age of 19 to claim the prize.
Basket Theme #5: Tea Lover
Winner: Donna E.
Basket includes:
Basket Theme #6: Movie Night
Winner: Monik C.
Basket includes:
Basket Theme #7: Book Lover
Winner: Lynn C.
Basket includes:
Basket Theme #8: Coffee Lover
Winner: Lisa K.
Basket includes:
Basket Theme #9: Hockey, Beer, Wine, and Snacks
Winner: Carol C.
Basket includes:
The winner of this basket must be over the age of 19 to claim the prize.
Basket Theme #10: Arts & Crafts
Winner: Jacquie J.
Basket includes:
Basket Theme #11: Car Wash
Winner: Susan H.
Basket includes:
The Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives relies on our community to support an event of this size. We are more than happy to accept sponsorships in the form of advertisements. Each advertisement will be printed in the Tour of Homes ticket booklet, which reaches approximately 700 tour-goers, and will be featured on this webpage (below) with a link to its respective business. Please note that ticket advertisements will be printed in black and white, and website advertisements will be featured in colour. We are pleased to offer two sizes of advertisements: a half-page ad (5" x 3.5"), a quarter-page ad (5" x 1.9") and an eighth-page ad (2.5" x 1.9"). Local businesses are welcome to fill out the below form to advertise with us, or to otherwise contact us at (519) 773-9723 or info@aylmermuseum.ca.
The Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives is proud to showcase local merchants and businesses in each home on the Christmas Tour of Homes. Merchants who participate in the tour will have their merchandise prominently displayed in each home. Museum volunteers work with the merchants to select a series of products to borrow for the duration of the tour and will return those products to their respective merchants as soon as possible after the tour. Volunteers will provide merchants with a detailed loan form indicating agreed-upon pickup and return dates. The Tour of Homes ticket booklet will include explicit credit and thanks to each merchant, and each merchant is entitled to two complimentary tickets for their participation.
Merchants of the Aylmer, Malahide, or East Elgin areas are welcome to fill out the below application. Should museum volunteers be interested in using your merchandise for the Tour of Homes, committee representatives will be in contact.
The Tour of Homes relies on the generosity of local homeowners to operate. We would love to hear from you if you're interested in showcasing your home on the tour!
Please note that homes on the tour must be located within Aylmer or Malahide.
Homeowners work closely with the Tour of Homes Committee to ready their homes for the tour, and are entitled to two free tickets to the tour and a gift card to a local restaurant.
Should the committee be interested in partnering with you to showcase your home, a committee member will be in contact to discuss details and the next steps. Thank you for your time and consideration!