Making Spirits Bright:

DeFuniak Springs, FL — Celebrate the merriment of the holiday season with the annual Christmas Tour of Homes in historic DeFuniak Springs on Saturday, December 6. Filled with holiday spirit, the tour runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features over 15 beautiful homes, churches, and businesses—each with its own unique history, architectural style, and interior decor—all decorated for the season. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at www.bit.ly/DFS-TOH25.

Hosted by St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church, this year’s tour offers a unique look inside some of the most beloved homes around scenic Lake DeFuniak and its surrounding community. Proceeds from the tour benefit St. Agatha’s Preservation Fund, which is dedicated to the ongoing preservation, maintenance, and restoration of its three historic structures on Circle Drive, dating back to the late 1880s.

The self-guided tour begins at the DeFuniak Springs Visitors Center, located at 1162 Circle Drive, where visitors will receive their admission ticket, map, and tour guide with background information on each home and featured locations. The guide highlights special tour stops, including book signings by published authors Deborah Rine, Billy Moore, and Alexa Kempson; musical entertainment by organist Lona Robinson and sopranist and flautist Uma Jolly; recommendations for lunch and dinner spots; and other local places worth visiting.

One of the tour’s highlights is the charming Pansy Cottage, circa 1885, once owned by noted author Isabella Alden MacDonald. She wrote and co-authored over 100 books under the pen name “Pansy” and was an influential figure in the Chautauqua movement in DeFuniak Springs. This beautiful gem is the only remaining structure of its kind and a key part of the tour.

Other notable homes include a two-story Neo-Classical-style residence circa 1895, designed by Duncan Gillis for the F. Q. Tervin family, which received a 2023 historic preservation award; a Florida vernacular-style home called Tara, built to match its turn-of-the-century neighbors; and a two-story Folk Victorian home that has been renovated to preserve its original form and style, even as its interior has been modernized. Each residence offers its own charm and story, contributing to the character and heart of the DeFuniak Springs historic district.

St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church, circa 1890, along with its Parish House and Vicarage, are attractions for history enthusiasts, all situated on Circle Drive around scenic Lake DeFuniak. At 12:15 p.m., visitors can attend “Between the Lines,” a special session where St. Agatha’s will share historical stories about its three unique properties. Musical performances will follow at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., featuring St. Agatha organist Lona Robinson, accompanied by sopranist and flautist Uma Jolly. They will perform with the church’s magnificent mahogany pipe organ—the only pure pipe organ in the city, which was handmade and patterned after the Haydn organ in England.

Step back in time at the historic Charles E. Murray House, built around 1887, for a captivating presentation, “Northwest Florida Pioneers—History Mysteries.” Learn about two notable Florida pioneers, Charles E. Murray himself and J.D. Wolfe, a well-known editor of The Pensacolan and the first leaseholder of the lot. This home’s prized possession is an exquisite 1882 seven-foot Steinway piano.

Also on the tour is The First Methodist Church, built around 1967, which was originally constructed in 1887 just north of its current location and served as The Methodist Episcopal Church (northern branch). The original building was the first church completed on the grounds of the Florida Chautauqua Campus.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the Walton-DeFuniak Library (the oldest operating library in Florida, established in 1887), the Walton County Heritage Museum (located in the former L&N railroad depot), and the historic Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood—all situated within the town’s historic district.

The holiday festivities continue after the tour with the Mistletoe Market by Main Street DeFuniak Springs from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; the Festival of Trees inside the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood, featuring themed Christmas trees from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Daniel’s Rev & Rally from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 14 S. 7th Street, showcasing cars, trucks, and motorcycles of all types; and the enchanting Christmas Reflections, a holiday tradition featuring over 10 million lights around Lake DeFuniak starting at 5:30 p.m.

For more details or to buy tickets, visit www.bit.ly/DFS-TOH25 or call (850) 830-7663. Reserve now to experience a joyous and merry day in DeFuniak Springs! Sponsors include DeFuniak Landmarks / University of West Florida Historic Trust, Naylor Realty, Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, Merrifield & Pilcher Realty, and Davis Watkins Funeral Home.

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About St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church is a historic Carpenter Gothic Episcopal church located at 144 Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. It is a contributing property in the DeFuniak Springs Historic District. Founded in 1890, its mission is to preserve the unique historical and inclusive environment for sacramental worship and to develop and maintain programs for community outreach and personal growth. The Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains a hand-made pipe organ patterned after a Haydn organ in England. It is the only church remaining from the Chautauqua era (1885-1937).

DeFuniak Springs Christmas Tour of Homes Returns December 6