Christmas in Odessa is a self-guided walking tour of private homes and public buildings, many of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. These structures have been decorated for the holidays affording visitors a colorful as well as an interesting tour. In addition to the house tour, various special events are also included in the ticket price such as the Christmas Craft & Antique Show Horse, carriage rides on Main Street, the Newark Fife and Drum Corp and Christmas concerts at Old St. Pauls Church.

The first "Christmas in Odessa" was born 46 years ago as a fund raiser for the Women's Club of Odessa. The purpose of the event was to fund college scholarships for local high school seniors. With the help and cooperation of Odessa homeowners, more than 100 students have been provided full scholarship. Through the Christmas in Odessa fund raiser project, contributions for many worthwhile community groups and projects were made.