Hundreds of people flocked to Tipp City to kick-start the holiday season on Saturday for the annual Tippecanoe Christmas in the Village.

This event has been going on for decades and this year’s theme was 100 + Years of Homes in honor of the Tipp City Library’s 100th anniversary.

People who attended were able to get holiday decorating ideas while touring nine homes on the Christmas tour. Each home was decorated for Christmas and included festive tabletops decorated by professional designers.

Dawn Kramer and Chris Stapleton were this year’s Christmas in the Village co-captains. Kramer says they were estimating 600-700 tickets would be sold and that the committee worked for months putting the event together.

“We also have single-day volunteers, other organizations, sponsors, shops and restaurant owners, and the cornerstone of it all, our homeowners,” said Kramer. “It’s a lot of work having a home on the tour and we appreciate their graciousness and time opening their homes for the tour.”

The home at 780 S. Hyatt Street is one of the oldest homes in Tipp City. According to Annette Calicoat, a volunteer tour guide, it was built sometime between 1820-1826. The home was originally a two-story brick structure with one room on the bottom floor and another on the top. It went through a major renovation in 1869, when a large addition was added to the front of the house.

The current homeowners, Erin and Steve Staub, bought the home in 2016 and spent more than a year renovating it. They say they wanted to keep the historic integrity of the home while modernizing it. Designer Randy Luken worked with the Staubs for the Tour of Homes. His tabletop had a rustic farmhouse feel with woodland charm. The colors were holiday red and black buffalo plaid.

Kramer explains the appeal of the tour. “It unites us. People love Tipp City and I don’t just mean the residents. Hundreds of people come together for a common cause,” said Kramer.

Christina Weaver agrees. She grew up in Tipp City but now lives in Centerville. She said she’s been attending the Home Tour for years.

“I love the charm of Tipp City. It is almost like something out of a Hallmark movie,” said Weaver. “I love coming and getting ideas for decorating my own home.”

Weaver says her favorite decorations were from 522 W. Broadway St. The designer was Rachel Upton. Her table was decorated with classic touches. She used blue and white Chinoiserie vases accented with gold serving pieces. A harpist was playing in the dining room to set the Christmas mood.

While waiting to get into homes, people enjoyed live performances from musicians and ballerinas. There was also a Cookie Chalet with cookies, hot cider, hot chocolate, and hot coffee free for guests. Gardens Alive donated live evergreen trees as a “thank-you” to guests who attended.

Profits go back into the community to other charities, including Seeds of Hope, which supports foster and kinship families in Miami County.

“There is a lot of hard stuff going on in the world right now. People have hard individual circumstances going on in their lives. We love being able to provide something that brings smiles to people’s faces. It generates the true spirit of Christmas and honors our quaint small town,” said Kramer.

The committee will begin planning for the next tour in April or May.