Nancy DeGennaro, the Daily News Journal, November 4, 2018
The holidays are right around the corner, and so is the annual Oaklands Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes.
The historic locations featured in the Annual Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes have been released.
Set for 4 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 1, the tour will take visitors to 10 locations, including the homes of five downtown residents.
‘The Candlelight Tour of Homes is a Middle Tennessee tradition 35 years in the mak-ing,’ said James Manning, executive director of Oaklands.
The tour will feature homes, businesses and historic buildings. But the centerpiece of the tour is Oaklands Mansion, a former plantation and home to one of Murfreesboro’s most prominent families of the 1800s.
This year Maney Hall, adjacent to the mansion, will be host to the holiday marketplace. There will be a selection of handmade works and wares from local artisans and craftspeople.
‘It’s the perfect opportunity to make holiday purchases for friends and family,’ Manning said.
Admission to the marketplace is included with tickets to the Candlelight Tour of Homes.
In addition to the shopping marketplace, see a live nativity displayed by Southeast Baptist Church’s Bethlehem Marketplace, which is also an annual tradition that will take place Dec. 8 and 9.
Also bring along your appetite. The Baker’sDozen Cookie Cabin, Cousins Maine Lobster and Something Southern food trucks will
be on site for hot beverages and warm treats.
And it doesn’t matter where you start your tour.
‘Tour-goers love that they can begin at any location and, if they have not already purchased a ticket in advance at oaklandsmansion.org, they can buy one at any home on the tour. You can find the tour route and parking suggestions on our website,’ Manning said.
You can also purchase advance tickets in the museum shop adjacent to the mansion by 4 p.m. Nov. 29, for a discounted rate of $15 for adults.
At the door, admission is $20 per adult and $10 for students and children age 6-12; children 5 and younger get in free.
Tour stops
Stops along the holiday tour include these historic buildings:
Oaklands Mansion and Cottage — 900 N. Maney Ave.
❚ Holiday Marketplace at Oaklands Visitors Center — 901 N. Maney Ave.
❚ Mr. Corey Williams — 450 Roberts Street
❚ Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Bell — Big Holly, 718 N. Maney Ave.
❚ Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Bell — Big Holly’s Little House, 700 N. Maney Ave.
❚ Mr. and Mrs. Rhea Cole — 619 N. Maney Ave.
❚ Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ventiegham — 603 N. Maney Ave.
❚ Mr. and Mrs. Daren Chambley — 525 N. Maney Ave.
❚ Dreamingincolor — 504 N. Maney Ave.
❚ Ransom School House — 717 N. Academy St.
About Oaklands Mansion
At its peak, Oaklands was the center of a 1,500-acre plantation and one of the most elegant homes in Rutherford County.
Since that time, Oaklands has seen dramatic changes.
Following the Civil War, it deteriorated from a majestic mansion to virtual ruins and, in the 1950s, its very existence was threatened.
The mansion was brought back from the brink of destruction, saved from the wrecking ball when a group of concerned ladies created the Oaklands Association in 1959. Over the decades, the association has worked to restore Oaklands to its original splendor and preserve its unique history.
Proceeds from the Candlelight Tour of Homes go toward the continuing preservation of the local historic treasure.
For information about Oaklands, call 615-893-0022 or email info@oaklandsmansion. org.
Reach reporter Nancy De Gennaro at 615-278-5148 or [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @NanDeGennaro.