Tour of Homes evokes old spirit of Christmas

By ANNA PAIGE-For The Outpost

Nearly every room in Pam and Don Havig’s home is decorated with holiday décor. One room is dedicated to Santa, the living room showcases a boutique display of angels, a bathroom is embellished with reindeer, and snowmen festively adorn the kitchen.

Pam said her holiday décor is reminiscent of her grandmother’s home during the holidays.

“When I was a little girl, my grandmother decorated every room in the house, and I thought that everyone should do that,” Pam said. She recalled thinking that her mother was “a little strange” because she didn’t decorate every room in the house. Turns out, “it was my grandmother that was a little strange,” she said with a chuckle as she remembered her grandmother.

Don shares his wife’s enthusiasm for the holidays. “Christmas is just the ultimate family and friends time,” he said. “It’s the time we pause and are thankful for the things that are really important.”

During Christmas, the Havigs’ home is transformed into a holiday showcase of memorable items from the family, including brass reindeer that were Don’s grandmother’s, a giant brandy snifter filled with Christmas orbs that Pam inherited from her grandmother, as well as holiday-themed photographs of the family.

“We’ve tried to echo the things that we’ve grown up with in our Christmas decorations,” Pam said.

The Havig home is one of four homes on display for the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Choral’s fifth annual Holiday Tour of Homes, taking place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

Pam and Don Havig are both members of the Billings Symphony Chorale and are displaying their home to raise funds for the organization.

Homes on the self-guided tour include the Havigs’ at 1944 Stillmeadow Drive; Michael and Aimee Brown’s home at 2312 Virginia Lane; Tom and Ruth Drummond’s home at 2208 Nina Clare Road; and Bobby Williams’ home at 1708 Lenhardt Lane.

Those participating on the tour open their decorated homes Saturday for the self-guided tour, which raises funds for the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale and its mission of entertaining, inspiring, and educating through symphonic music.

Shelley Van Atta, Billings Symphony board member and chairwoman of this year’s event, said, “The Billings Symphony’s Holiday Tour of Homes has become a tradition that many people in the greater-Billings area look forward to as a festive prelude to the holiday season.”

At the Havig home, each room is decorated to reflect the season. The main tree is covered with crystal, something that started with Pam’s sister, who gave the family some hand-blown icicles.

“It looked so pretty that we started collecting crystal,” Pam said. Throughout the years, they’ve received crystal from friends and family and have also collected crystal from antique stores. The tree shimmers with the clear glass, and is accented with vintage red bows from Pam’s grandmother.

Another prominent display is the Havigs’ alabaster nativity set, one of the first Christmas items the couple purchased following their wedding. Also on display is a plastic nativity set their children played with.

“It’s the rattiest nativity set you’ve ever seen,” Pam said. When she opens the boxes each year, “all those memories come flooding back,” she said. “It’s great.”

Tour highlights

Courtesy Billings Symphony

• Michael and Aimee Brown, 2312 Virginia Lane: The Browns’ home was built in 1911 and has been thoughtfully renovated to bring modern living in the well-built farmhouse, which sits on an acre peppered with old-growth trees. With help from Gainan’s Flowers and Gifts, the Brown’s home radiates traditional warmth of the holiday season.

• Tom and Ruth Drummond, 2208 Nina Clare Road: Enter the whimsical world of nearly 100 Christmas villages at the home of the Drummonds. What began 15 years ago with just one village has grown to include a city of miniature houses, railroads, churches, businesses and much, much more, throughout a significant area of their home.  The vast display, which they begin constructing in early October, has villages represented from the Drummond’s travels in the U.S. and abroad.

• Don and Pam Havig, 1944 Stillmeadow Drive: Don and Pam’s home, a reflection of their love of family and fun, sits on an acre against Canyon Creek in a beautiful country setting.  Filled with family mementos and with the help of their daughter, Erica Capser, this home shows the personal style, traditions and love of the Havig family for the holidays.

• Bobby Williams, 1708 Lenhardt Lane: An English country estate is what comes to mind as you drive through the entry gate and pass by the horse pastures leading to the six-acre grounds and elegant home of Bobby Williams and his three lovely daughters. With festive decorating by Gainan’s Flowers and Gifts, gorgeous holiday cheer will have visitors wishing for a horse carriage ride through the grounds.

Tickets for the home tour cost $25 and are available through Friday at the Symphony office, 2721 Second Ave. N., Suite 350, by phone at 252-3610 or online at www.billingssymphony.org. Tickets may also be purchased the day of the tour at the homes. More information on each home, as well as a map of the tour, can be found on the Symphony website or picked up at the Symphony office.