Many historic homes in the area will be bedecked and bedazzled and open for touring during the holiday season. Here's a look at what you'll see this season:

THE GLENN HOUSE

The Glenn House in Cape Girardeau will be open for holiday touring beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving.

"We'll then be open every Saturday and Sunday after that through Dec. 28," says Donna Grantham, recording secretary of the Historic Association of Greater Cape Girardeau Inc.

Tour hours will be from 1 to 4 p.m. on those days.

The house will also be open for candlelight tours on Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13, as well as Saturday, Dec. 20. Hours for the candlelight tours are 5 to 8 p.m.

The cost for any of the tours is $5 for adults and $2 for kids age 12 and under.

This year's theme for the Glenn House is "Home for the Holidays."

"We'll be featuring a special display with a feather Christmas tree and ornaments from [the late] Judge Stanley Grimm's collection," says Grantham.

THE OLIVER HOUSE

The Oliver House in Jackson will begin holiday tours from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 30. Other holiday tour dates and times include the following: 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 4; immediately following the Jackson Christmas Parade until 6 p.m. on Dec. 6; 1 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7; and 1 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 14.

In addition to those holiday tour dates and times, Santa will be at the Oliver House from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 7.

"Everyone is welcome to come and take pictures with Santa and see the five or six Christmas trees that will be on display then," says Pat Fosse, board member of the Jackson Heritage Association.

During the holidays, there is no charge to tour the Oliver House, but donations will be accepted.

Changes will be made to the formal parlor in the Oliver House in time for holiday touring.

"The formal parlor is being repainted and re-stenciled, and it will be redecorated for Christmas," says Fosse. "Every year, we leave one room the same, but we change all the others at least in some small way."

MAGNOLIA MANOR

Magnolia Manor in Cairo, Illinois, will be open for touring and luncheons during the holiday season.

The "Holiday House," as it is called during the season, will be open for touring only on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, according to Tim Slapinski, curator of Magnolia Manor.

Then, from Dec. 1 to 6, the house will be open for both luncheons and touring.

"The luncheon hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m and touring hours are 1 to 4 p.m. on those days," says Slapinski.

The cost to tour Magnolia Manor is $8 and the cost of the luncheon is $22. Reservations are required for the luncheons.

HUNTER-DAWSON HOME

The Hunter-Dawson Home in New Madrid, Missouri, will be fully decorated and ready for touring before the middle of December, says Vicki Jackson, interpretive resource specialist for the home.

Free candlelight tours will be available Dec. 12 and 13.

"The house will be lit with oil lamps and candlelight during those tours," she says.

Regular holiday touring days and hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

"We decorate with fresh greenery, so it typically doesn't last all the way to Christmas," says Jackson.

Holiday touring costs for the Hunter-Dawson Home are $5 for adults and $3 for kids age 17 and younger.

SIKESTON DEPOT MUSEUM

The Sikeston Depot Museum will be decorated and open for touring in November and December, with two holiday events planned during those months.

The artwork of Shirley Knachtrieb will be on display and for sale at the depot during November and December, as will handmade wire ornaments and angels from Dodi Eisenhauer, who owns and operates Village Designs in Daisy, Missouri.

"A reception and meet and greet will be held for both artists on Friday, Nov. 21, at 5 p.m.," says Shari Bartyzel of the Sikeston Depot Museum. "We'll have live entertainment and refreshments at the reception and everyone is welcome to attend."

From 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, Santa will pay a visit to the depot.

There is no charge to attend and parents are welcome to bring their cameras. Local crafts will be available for purchase and refreshments will be served.

THE MOORE HOUSE

The Mississippi County Historical Society, which operates The Moore House, will have the home decorated and open for holiday touring on Friday, Dec. 12.

"There will be an open house immediately after the [Charleston Christmas] parade on the 12th," says Cora Sue Stalling, board member of the Mississippi County Historical Society. "The house will be totally decorated for Christmas."

The open house will last until 8:30 p.m., and there is no charge to attend. Light refreshments will be served and there will be live entertainment and a holiday bake sale during the open house.

STE. GENEVIEVE

A variety of historic homes and churches in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, will be decorated and available for touring in December.

"During the Holiday Christmas Festival on Dec. 6 and 7, three historical homes and three historical churches will be open for touring and we'll have live music from all different time periods," says Sandra Cabot, director of tourism and economic development for Ste. Genevieve.

During the entire month of December, the three homes -- the Bolduc, the Guibourd House and the Felix Valle State Historic Site -- will be decorated and open for touring.

"The Bolduc House will have a special manger scene and you'll be able to walk through the garden that will look like a winter wonderland," says Cabot.

One the evening of Dec. 7, "Le Reveillon" will take place at the Felix Valle State Historical Site.

"Traditional foods served in the 1800s will be available," says Cabot.

On Dec. 6 and 7, an Art Guild reception will be held, and the Holiday Art Show and Sale, sponsored by the Ste. Genevieve Art Guild Gallery, will take place Nov. 28 and 29, Dec. 6 and 7, and Dec. 13 and 14.

"There will be holiday-themed art for sale as well as note cards and all types of art made by the members of the Art Guild," says Cabot. "Refreshments will also be served."

There is no charge to tour the three historic churches on Dec. 6 and 7. To tour the historic homes, which will be open until Christmas, the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center offers a passport for $15, which covers all three homes. For more information, visit www.VisitSteGen.com.