By LESLIE COLLINS
Northeast News
November 28, 2012 

Area residents will be able to tour historic homes and finish up their Christmas shopping this Saturday during the Pendleton Heights Holiday Homes Tour.

This year, in addition to the historic homes tour, the event will include an artists market located inside the gymnasium of Scuola Vita Nuova Charter School, 544 Wabash Ave., Kansas City, Mo. A number of Historic Northeast artists are participating and items for purchase will range from fiber to jewelry to wall art, among other handcrafted items.

Inside the gym, Pendleton Heights elves will be on hand to wrap presents for $3 per gift. There is no cost to access the artists market.

Other activities will include visits with Santa Claus, Christmas carolers and street performers if weather permits, and a variety of food vendors located along Amie near Garfield Elementary. Scuola Vita students will also show off their singing talents inside the school as well as give guided tours of the facility.

“We just decided to make it a little bit more like a festival than just a homes tour,” said Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association President Jessica Ray.

Homes on tour will include an American Foursquare, Folk Victorian, Queen Anne, Prairie Style and a recently restored tri-plex.

“You don’t have to be a fan of Victorians to like this tour,” Ray said. “It’s a good variety of houses. They’re all different types of architecture and in different stages of rehab.”

All of the houses feature original woodwork and restored elements, she said.

Homes tour tickets are $10 in advance or $12 the day of the event. To purchase advance tickets, visit http://ph.uticketit.com. Tickets may be purchased the day of the event at the tent in front of Scuola Vita Nuova. The event will be will be held Dec.1 from noon to 5 p.m.

“There’s food, there’s shopping and cool, old houses,” Ray said. “Why would you not come?”