Tour Hard-Core

Nowadays, it’s hard to find a one-horse open sleigh to tote you around and help fulfill your snowy holiday dreams. But perhaps a free carriage ride would do? You should at least try one out at the Lafayette Square Annual Holiday Parlor Tour (www.lafayettesquare.org). The interiors of ten stately homes (like the one pictured) are offered up for the peeping from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and carriage-ing around the neighborhood park allows you to feel that Victorian-era vibe (that’s the period in which most of these homes were built). Tour tickets cost $15 to $18 and can be purchased by calling 314-772-5724; your self-guided step back in time begins at the Park House (at Lafayette and Mississippi avenues).

And ten must be a magic, festive number, because that’s also how many historic structures are on the somewhat-confusingly named “The Night Before Christmas” Candlelight Christmas House Tour (today from 2 to 8 p.m.). During this event, you get to visit eight homes and a couple of bonus locations — the restored Bacon Log Cabin and Manchester’s City Hall. Plus, holiday cookies and cider are served! This tour costs $12, and tickets are available today at the log cabin (Henry Avenue and Spring Meadows Drive, Ballwin) or in advance by calling 636-220-7330.
Sun., Dec. 10