Where to see the holiday spirit in Southeast Missouri

__HOLIDAY OF LIGHTS DISPLAY__

Load up the car, crank up the carols and cruise through Cape County Park North to enjoy the Holiday of Lights Display. A Christmas tradition since 1987, Cape County Park North transforms into a dazzling light display each holiday season. Businesses, civic organizations, churches and individuals set up their own displays before Thanksgiving. The number of displays has grown from 11 in 1987 to more than 200 this year. Displays are lit until 11 p.m. each night through Dec. 31.

__CHRISTMAS AT THE GLENN HOUSE__

Christmas comes to the Glenn House, 325 S. Spanish St., with tours for the holiday season. The historic home in Cape Girardeau will be open for tours from 1 to 4 p.m. every weekend in December as well as Dec. 26 and 27. Candlelight tours will be offered from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 and Dec. 21. The Carriage House behind the home will be decorated as well, and cookies, coffee and cider will be served to visitors. Tickets are $4 in advance and can be purchased at the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Tickets at the door will be $5; children's tickets are $2.

__OLIVER HOUSE HOLIDAY TOURS__

The historic Oliver House, 224 E. Adams St. in Jackson, will have several holiday events this month. The home will be open for tours from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5 in conjunction with the live nativity at the Emanuel United Church, which is next door to the Oliver House. Open houses will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 and 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 8 and Dec. 15. One Dec. 8, the Oliver House will have a special visitor all the way from the North Pole. Santa Claus will be taking pictures with children from 5 to 7 p.m.

__NATIVITIES AROUND THE WORLD__

More than 30 local families have contributed nativities that will be on display during the third annual "Nativities Around the World" from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 to 8 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1048 W. Cape Rock Drive in Cape Girardeau. The display includes nativities from more than 30 countries. While touring overseas in the military, the Baker family of St. Louis collected 452 nativity sets, including a hand-carved olive wood nativity from Jerusalem, that will be displayed during the event. It takes about 20 minutes to browse the display, and there will be a self-guided scavenger hunt for those who like a challenge!

__LFCS HOLIDAY HOME TOUR__

In its 26th year, this year's Holiday Home Tour, a fundraiser for Lutheran Family and Children's Services, features five houses in Cape Girardeau and one across the river in McClure, Ill. All of the houses will be decked out for the season, but each has special features and history for visitors to enjoy. For example, the Webb home in McClure was built in 1882 and has been owned by the same family since then. It's a beautiful example of Victorian architecture. Also on this year's tour is Cape Girardeau's well-known "Boat House" near Capaha Park. Built in 1940, it has been undergoing renovations since Paul and Dawn Caruso purchased it in 2011. The Holiday Home Tour will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7; tickets are $25 and may be purchased at the LFCS office, America's Mattress, The Bank of Missouri locations, Patrick's Furniture, the Southeast Missouri Hospital gift shop and Sunny Hill Garden Center.

__CHRISTMAS COUNTRY CHURCH TOUR__

Twenty-four churches in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry counties are a part of this year's Christmas Country Church Tour. Each of these small, often historic, churches are decorated for the holidays and each stop offers music and refreshments. Take your time and enjoy the drive, the scenery and the ambience that comes along with this event; don't try to cram all 24 stops into one day. The tour will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20; churches can be visited in any order. A full list of churches can be found at www.immanuelnewwells.org/events/christmastour13/.