The 18^th Annual Balboa Island Holiday Home Tour was held on Sunday, December 14^th, a gorgeous chilly day following a much-needed rainstorm. People from all over Orange County love this event – there’s just something about the idea of seeing the inside of Balboa Island homes, especially when they’re decorated for the holidays.

Santa Claus greeted folks at the Balboa Island Museum and Historical Society, which featured music, refreshments and a Holiday Home Tour art raffle. The whole island was festive, beginning with the garlands and wreath on the bridge, to the red and green balloons dotting the businesses along the avenue. A group of kids were selling Christmas cookies and marshmallow snowmen at a table on Ocean Front, raising money for donated wheelchairs.

The familiar hand-painted signs were up, directing people to the homes on the tour. This year there were seven quaint and interesting cottages included. Small groups carrying programs and blue booties strolled merrily from location to location.

The Holiday Home Tour highlighted a tiny yellow historical cottage on Amethyst Avenue, a unique gray bungalow on Ruby Avenue and a funky gray house on the Grand Canal, to name a few. The volunteer docents were stationed at each property, and just loved talking with the crowds and answering questions.

Thank you so much to the Balboa Island Improvement Association, the gracious homeowners who opened up their beautiful houses, and all the volunteers who gave their time to this event. 18 years running, the Balboa Island Holiday Home Tour is a tradition to continue!