Within Cornerstones Bed and Breakfast in Qualicum Beach is a Christmas village that could rival a department store set-up.
The Christmas village is just one of several decorated spaces in the Skopyk household, which is part of the Christmas in Oceanside Home Tour on Dec. 3.
Anna Maria Skopyk said she has been collecting pieces for her Christmas village for the past six or seven years. But it was when she met her husband Bill, who she runs the Cornerstones Bed and Breakfast with, that her collection began to grow.
“Every Christmas he was buying me houses and this is where we’re at now,” Skopyk said of her collection, which she said has more than 20 homes and buildings, along with many other pieces.
“There are some houses that I started with that I can’t part with yet, so they’re in their own little subdivision,” said Skopyk with a laugh.
And each home holds its own surprise, Skopyk said.
“You can look into the houses… the one in the back has a little turkey dinner. There’s lot of things happening in the houses,” she said.
Along with the bed and breakfast are six other homes on the tour, including Rotarian Susan Stark’s home.
Stark, who is the chair of the home tour, said she had seven homes lined up, but someone had to drop out so she filled in.
“The hardest thing about it is finding people who are willing to share their homes. So the people that do are absolutely phenomenal,” said Stark, whose home has been in the tour before. “It takes a special breed of people who are willing to open their doors and welcome that many people to come through.”
Each home, Stark said, will be decorated differently. Stark, an interior designer, said some people will go all out-with decorations, while others will take the less-is-more approach.
“My house is on the water so I’m a true fan on less is more, so each room will have a little bit of Christmas in it, but not excessive. It’s all about decorating so I don’t take away from the beauty of the house,” Stark said. “It’s a little different from some people. One of our other rotary members said this morning that they incorporate everything and every room has something in it.”
The Christmas in Oceanside Home Tour is Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Captivating Details (133 Second Ave.) and Rebekah Anne Designs (221 Second Ave.) in Qualicum Beach and at Close to You (174 Corfield St.) in Parksville.
The home tour is hosted by the Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach Sunrise with funds going to support local charities.
People who have purchased a ticket will also get a discounted lunch at local restaurants including Courtyard Cafe, Cview Restaurant, Fish Tales, the Final Approach and Pacific Prime.