Two of Redlands' longest-running holiday traditions are set to return the first weekend of December, as the YMCA of the East Valley brings its Holiday Boutique and Pantry Bakeshop and its Holiday Home Tour back to the Redlands Family YMCA. The Boutique and Pantry run Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5-6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 500 East Citrus Ave., while the Home Tour follows on Sunday, Dec. 6.
According to ymcahometour.org, the Holiday Boutique is celebrating its 47th year in 2026, and it will once again bring together more than 70 local vendors selling handcrafted gifts, jewelry, holiday decorations, candles, ceramics, artwork and clothing, per the seed facts reported by Community Forward Redlands. The Pantry Bakeshop portion of the event rounds out the weekend with homemade cookies, cakes, candies, fudge and other holiday treats, prepared and donated by community volunteers. There is no admission fee to attend the Boutique and Pantry.
A Sunday Tour Through Historic and Modern Redlands Homes
The Holiday Home Tour, entering its 59th year per the same YMCA source, takes place Sunday, Dec. 6, with participants able to start at any home between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The tour features six Redlands residences decorated for the season, spanning both historic homes and modern residences, according to the seed reporting.
Tour tickets are priced at $45 if purchased before Dec. 1 and rise to $50 starting that date, the YMCA's Home Tour site notes. Tickets are available at the Redlands Family YMCA front desk and online at ymcahometour.org. For those wanting an extra touch of holiday indulgence, a Patron VIP Tour and Brunch Package costs $115 and includes brunch at Citrone Restaurant in Redlands, located across the street from the YMCA, along with front-of-the-line access to the participating homes.
Funds Support Legal Aid and Financial Assistance
Organizers say proceeds from both the Home Tour and the Boutique and Pantry benefit the YMCA of the East Valley's Legal Aid Program and its Financial Assistance program. The Legal Aid Clinic provides affordable legal guidance and assistance to individuals and families, according to the YMCA of the East Valley, which says the clinic offers advice in civil matters ranging from custody disputes to domestic violence cases, available by appointment only and without court representation. The YMCA notes a $50 initial consultation fee applies, with additional fees possible for document preparation. Separately, the Financial Assistance program helps individuals and families access YMCA programs and services regardless of their ability to pay.
The YMCA describes the weekend as a chance to express seasonal generosity, both through the gifts exchanged at the Boutique and through the lives touched by the programs the events help fund. Organizers say the Home Tour and Boutique and Pantry come together with support from local homeowners, vendors, volunteers and sponsors throughout the Redlands community.
A Beloved Tradition Returns
The YMCA of the East Valley frames the weekend as a return of a beloved Redlands tradition, one that has evolved over nearly six decades for the Home Tour and close to five decades for the Boutique and Pantry. Last year's holiday weekend, as previously reported by Community Forward Redlands, featured more than 75 artisans, a bakeshop stocked with donated holiday goodies and a six-home tour held over two days in early December.
