Take a peek inside Elgin's historic houses

The Gifford Park Association's 29th annual Historic House Tour will be from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 on Elgin's northwest side.

Each year, the house tour features a different historic neighborhood of Elgin. This year, the seven homes will be in the northwest neighborhood just south of Wing Park. The house tour will be in the area from Vincent Place, west to North Worth Avenue, and north of Highland Avenue to Wing Park Boulevard. Only one of these homes has been on the house tour before.

The annual Historic Elgin House Tour is an educational event that offers something for everyone. There's architecture, history, home remodeling, interior decorating, gardening and more. The interior tours of the homes are guided and interpreted. The houses may be toured in any order. Wear comfortable shoes and allow yourself the full day to see all of the homes.

Advance tickets for $15 are available at Al's Cafe & Creamery, 43 DuPage Court; Jewel Food Stores on Larkin Avenue or Summit Street; and Ziegler's Ace Hardware stores at Spring Street or Lillian Street. Advance tickets are available until 9 p.m. Sept. 10. Or visit gifford-park-assoc.org; there is a $2 per order fee for online tickets.

At the door, tickets are $20, or $10 for under age 12 and over age 65, at the registration site, Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 W. Highland Ave. Registration will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. At registration, you will receive a tour booklet. The booklet gives you access to the tour sites. Once you have your booklet, you may tour the sites in any order and at any pace you choose.

For information, contact Fran Cella at (847) 695-4022 or visit gifford-park-assoc.org.

The Gifford Park Association is a nonprofit neighborhood organization committed to historic preservation and neighborhood revitalization.