The Elkmont High School Band will host its annual Christmas Tour of Homes Dec. 5.

Eight homes are featured on this year’s tour. Tickets are $5 and are available now from any band member and booster member.

The tour is from 4 to 8:30 p.m. with a reception from 3 to 6 p.m. Proceeds go to the band to fund its spring trip to Williamsburg, Va.

The reception, which is themed “Christmas Host Past and Present,” will be held at the Elkmont Methodist Church Annex Building located on Children Street in downtown Elkmont.

Purchase tickets and pick up maps at the reception and enjoy homemade treats supplied by the many band boosters who helped put this fundraiser into action.

Signs will be provided along the route to each home.

Here are descriptions of family homes on the tour:



The Pughs



Barry and Leigh Pugh’s home, on Maples Circle off Alabama 127, is brick ranch-style.

The Pugh family will show their Christmas spirit in their beautifully decorated home of many trees.

“The Family Tree” is a live tree the Pughs cut each year the Saturday after Thanksgiving from a Christmas tree farm in New Market.

It is decorated with ornaments that are sentimental to Barry, Leigh and their daughter Jensen with some ornaments more than 40 years old.

The ornaments include handmade ornaments from great grandmothers, the traditional yearly handmade ornament from their daughter (Jensen), mementoes from various accomplishments made through the year (such as a photo of Barry crossing the finish line at marathons), and ornaments collected from family trips as well as a new “special” ornament purchased each December specifically for the “Family Tree.”

The family also decorates “The Card Tree” and “The Nature Tree” in the dining room, “Jensen’s Tree” in her bedroom and many other trees.



The Dowds



The home of David, Vicky and Joe Dowd is located on Alabama 127 across from Clearmont Farms at Elkmont.

The Dowds are the third generation to own this family farm.

Johnie Carter (Vicky’s grandfather) bought this farm in 1963. The Dowds built their home in 2008 and enjoy farm life.

Vicky’s husband David takes care of the cattle while son Joe takes care of their horses. Vicky grew up in the old family farmhouse that is next door so she feels she is “back home.”

The Dowd home is a two-story country/colonial style.

Vicky collects Hallmark ornaments and will have a tree decorated with all their favorite Hallmark ornaments. She also will have a tree decorated with her son Joe’s ornaments of 19 years she has collected for him. With Joe’s love of the rodeo she is adding a Western Christmas tree this year.



The Eaves



The home of Renea Eaves, on Thomas Road in Pettusville, is a three-bedroom brick.

Renea showcases her extensive collection of snowmen throughout her living room including a snowman tree. The guest bedroom is furnished with antique pieces from her grandparents and is decorated with a snowflake tree.



The Hodges



The home of Byron Hodges showcases a country cottage style home, which is nestled in the middle of Aubie Lane off Sandlin Road.

From the outside, take in the beauty of the earth-tone colors of rock and brick combined with bronze rails that adds the finishing touches. Byron’s home gives a cozy feeling in the living area with the cathedral style ceilings lined of pine tongue-and-groove boards and hardwood floors of oak.

The rock fireplace is the focal point, which towers to the ceiling with a custom-built mantle with a TV insert and built-in bookcases on each side.

The home is painted with warm earth-tone colors throughout. Byron owns Hodges’ Cabinet Shop located on Sandlin Road. In his spacious kitchen, he showcases his work with custom-built maple cabinets with chocolate glazing.

The living area is decorated for Christmas with a traditional tree trimmed with traditional ornaments.



The Smiths



The Ragsdale Creek Road home of Kenney and Tavvy Smith is located on a hill that provides scenic views from the wrap-around porch. This traditional Southern country home was built on land that has been in their family for generations.

The Smiths’ home will be decorated inside and out with wreaths, lights, garland and bows. The home will have four trees, each with its own theme: traditional, woodland, country, and a children’s tree featuring antique ornaments and toys.

The tree also will display vintage children’s books. A vast collection of Santas will be on display throughout the children’s rooms.



The Wales



The home of Terry and Gwen Wales is located on Shipley Hollow Road in the Holland Gin community. Terry is manager of The Ardmore Telephone Company and Gwen is retired from BellSouth.

The love of their careers is carried over into their home with all antique telephones throughout. An old switchboard also is displayed.

Gwen has had a passion for dollhouses since early childhood. She has four handcrafted dollhouses, all wired with electricity. One is Victorian and the others are a farmhouse style, traditional style and American modern style.

She made the bedspreads and curtains for each dollhouse and laid the hardwood floors in each house herself.

She also has an antique wringer washer in one of the dollhouses. They are furnished and decorated for Christmas.



The Warners



The home of Doug and Tammie Warner is located off Main Street in Ardmore, with the drive being next door to El Olmeca Mexican Restaurant.

“Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I have collected Santas for years,” Tammie said. “You can never have enough Santas.”

The Warners ready their home for the holidays with greenery clipped from their farm. “We don’t use anything artificial. For us, fresh greenery reinforces what Christmas is all about-,” Tammie said.

Inside and outside the decorations feature fresh cut wreaths, garlands and trees. The combination living and dining room display the main Christmas tree decorated with a Twelve Days of Christmas theme.

Also on display is the Dickens Twelve Days of Christmas collection, a gift from Doug’s parents.

Tammie’s love of baking can be seen in the Christmas decorations in the kitchen. A homemade gingerbread house sets on the large island with lots of gingerbread and candy canes throughout the kitchen and keeping room. The built-in china cupboard displays Tammie’s prized collection of baking Santas.

The guest bedroom is decorated in a nutcracker theme and the master bed and bath are decorated with Old World Santas from Tammie’s collection. Downstairs, the family tree is decorated in ornaments collected over the last 25 years. Many are handmade by daughter Ashley.



The Faulks



The home of Scotty and Barbara Faulk is situated in the Mill Race community located off Austin Street from Main Street in Ardmore. Barbara’s Waterford crystal collection is displayed throughout the living area.

The focal point of the home is the fireplace with its wood media center on each side. This year the Faulk home will be decorated in a Country Christmas Paradise theme.

The tree has been decorated with ornaments Barbara and her family collected over the years while traveling.

“We have lived in Mill Race for over five years and we enjoy listening to Christmas music that luckily our neighbors play from their front yard throughout the Christmas Season,” Barbara said.

Refreshments will be served during the tour at the Faulks’ home and they invite everyone into their home to kick-off the Christmas season.