Bismarck, North Dakota - News

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

And this time of year brings the annual Holiday Home Walk, when area homeowners open their doors to display holiday-themed decorations to the public. This year, the Old Governor's Mansion and four area homes will decorate for the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony League's 29th annual Holiday Home Walk from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 23.

"It's a really festive thing,"said Jan Nelson, Bismarck-Mandan Symphony League president, "Something to kick off the holiday season."

Local businesses work with various homeowners to "Enhance the decorations," said Nelson. "For (businesses) to be able to display merchandise in a home setting allows people to see items in their own house."

"More people will see what we can do," said Robert's Floral designer Amy Ressler. "Merchandise will be in someone's home, as opposed to the flower shop." Robert's Floral has decorated a home since the holiday walk's first year. This season, the business will decorate the Connie and Dennis Breitzman home.

"People can look forward to new colors and themes," said Ressler, who, hinting toward this year's decoration, added "The homeowner likes snowmen" and mentioned a "Wine theme, long table displays, and burgundies to bring it all together... Ithink people will enjoy the warm colors."

According to Dennis Breitzman, his home was built in 1950 and was one of "several homes around" built by the same person. This "was his dream home" said Breitzman, and includes spiral staircases, built-in china cabinets and dressers, and recessed portions of walls for display lighting. "It's a nice old home,"Breitzman said.

In the 1960s, someone bought the property, landscaped the yard, and added a pool. In 1989, the Breitzman family purchased the home, raised two kids and now have five grandchildren who "like to run around (the house)."

"I think this will be a really neat house to see during the holidays,"Breitzman said.

"We want unique homes,"said Nelson. "Something a little different."

Betty and Clarence Jahner moved into their home soon after Thanksgiving last year. The house, which will be just shy of 1 year old for the walk around, was built completely handicap accessible, because "You just never know... Iguess we'd call ourselves middle-aged,"said Betty Jahner, with a laugh. The home boasts laundry rooms both upstairs and downstairs and plenty of room for the family. Jahner's daughter-in-law will soon meet with I. Keating Furniture World to begin decorating.

A reception for the walk will be from 12 to 5 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Trinity Community Center, 310 E. Ave. A. The reception will feature live music by local musicians and "lots of homemade cookies,"said Nelson.

Profits from the event support the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony. Throughout the year, members of the symphony visit schools and teach "fun things about music,"said Nelson. The symphony also sponsors an education concert for fourth-graders in April.

Tickets are $12. For those who only want to attend the Trinity reception, tickets are $6 and available at the door. Tickets are available at all Bismarck-Mandan Stamarts, Central Market Foods, Herberger's, Joy's Hallmark Store in Gateway Mall and the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony office. For more information, contact the symphony office at 258-8345.

(Brian Jackson is a student at the University of Mary. He can be reached at brian.jackson@bismarcktribune.com.)