CHRISTMAS in ODESSA (Delaware)

Mom & I loved our experience at Christmas in Odessa, a self-guided walking tour of private homes and public buildings in this small town located about midway between Wilmington & Dover, Delaware.  It made me think of a small scale Williamsburg - many of its beautifully maintained houses & buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, all exquisitely decorated for the holidays. 

Mom first heard about Christmas in Odessa on a grandma visit to my nephew, who attended school in nearby Middleton.  The event seems to be a bit of a Delaware secret, which seems a pity - so worth the gas!

The ticket price includes the self-guided house tour and other special events - a Christmas Craft Show, an Antique Show & Sale, the Newark Fife & Drum Corp, tea, and Christmas concerts at Old St. Paul's Church, and a capella caroling are some of this year's special events. 

Tickets* are $20.00 if purchased on the day of the Tour. Children ages 6 to 12 are $5.00, and under 6 years old are free. Ticket sales are at the Old Academy at 4th and Main Street in Odessa. The location is well marked. Check or cash (no credit cards accepted).   Each ticket comes with a tour guide booklet with a map, a list of homes (with a descriptive paragraph for each house), and a complete list of special events.  Please note that it is one day only - Saturday, December 1.  

To soak in the full effect of the holiday decorations, Mom & I lingered until after dark and were a bit hungry by the time we headed back home.  

We took a lovely ramble home, up Kennett Pike, stopping at Buckley's Tavern in Centreville DE (just south of the PA border) for dinner;  Mom & I thoroughly enjoyed our meal (and the memories - took a grilling class at Buckley's back in the early 1980s) & loved the setting.  Other on-the-way-home picks include the iconic Charcoal Pit (North Wilmington, about 10 minutes off I-95, on Rt 202) or Hockessin's Back Burner, both favorite spots for totally different reasons. 

Although a long drive (about 90 minutes), this falls within my "near" category of holiday scampers ("far" is anything over two hours).  Worth the time & gas.  Take a camera!!  

*  Advance tickets - $15.00 – were available by mail  from November 1 through November 15th.  Check or cash (no credit cards accepted).