There is an authentic, creative rural treasure hunt during the holiday season in southeast Missouri where individuals seek out gems of small towns. They drive down city streets and rural roads searching for the heartbeat of the community. When visitors arrive and open the door they are greeting with cultural decorations, a few carolers and in some places festive treats.

It is all part of the Christmas Country Church Tour, held Dec. 13-14 through Perry, Cape Girardeau and Bolinger counties. The event started with just six churches, according to Trish Erzfeld, director of Perry County Heritage Tourism, which hosts the event.

"A core group of ladies tend to decorate churches," she explains, "and these ladies wanted to see what others were doing. So, they had an open house. It was one evening where people could go and visit other churches in Perry County."

But the event grew. Now, 33 churches in three counties open their doors for two days to what has become a holiday tradition. Some are brick and mortar masterpieces, while others are one-room wooden clad buildings with a bell rung by a rope. Two do not even have electric. Almost every one of the churches is 100 years old.

"There is a lot of pride in these decorated churches, a lot of culture," Erzfeld says.

The Brazeau Presbyterian Church draws from its Irish and Scottish past trimming trees in plaid and paper tartan. "Some churches are decorated with old Christmas ornaments, some brand new," Erzfeld adds. "We really do run the whole gamut here."

Seeing all the churches in one night may be difficult. Erzfeld says many make it a two-day event, still there are others who have the gusto of avid treasure hunters. "This is not meant to be the ‘Amazing Race’ of churches," she says. "But some do and love it. They are on a mission to hunt down and find every church on the map."

You can print off maps, along with church names and addresses, online at bit.ly/churchtourinfo.

For Erzfeld, the Christmas Country Church Tour is a time to relax from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. She says it is nice to simply meander through the history of small communities in southeast Missouri, snack on a few traditional holiday treats and listen to the sounds of the season.

More information on the Christmas Country Church Tour can be found on their Facebook page or by contacting Erzfeld at [email protected].