Festive tour

Published 6:31 pm Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The Gibbs home, located at 4025 Pensacola Ave. will be on display to visitors during the Grand Ole Dames Garden Club on Sunday, Dec. 4.|Photo by Lisa Tindell

Atmore holidays would not be complete without a chance to stroll through local homes, churches and businesses on a relaxing Sunday afternoon. The event is planned for Sunday, Dec. 4 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Making plans to complete that event are members of the Grand Ole Dames Garden Club.

For many years the group has made it possible for area residents and visitors to see wonderful homes, churches and other venues decked out for the holidays as part of their annual fundraising efforts.

Earline Odom, one of the organizing members of the group, said the tour has been held for at least 15 years.

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“We have been doing this for at least 15 years,” Odom said. “We had to stop for a while because of a hurricane, but this has become a tradition with us.”

The Grand Ole Dames Garden Club uses the annual Holiday Tour of Homes as on of their main fundraisers to benefit local charities and those in needs.

“We use the money raised during the tour as a contribution to the Christian food bank,” Odom said. “We also have a benevolence fund set up for those who are in need.”

Homes throughout the Atmore area have been included in the tour over the years with the list of places to visit changing from year to year.

The 2010 event has an impressive list of participants on the tour with five homes, a church and four businesses participating in the event.

“There is a lot of work that goes into planning and getting the tour ready,” Odom said. “But, it’s for a worthy cause and it’s just once a year.”

The cost of the entire tour is $10 per person and allows ticket-holders to tour each location on the tour. Locations on the tour will be open from 1:30 until 5 p.m.

Odom said homes have been nicely decorated for the holidays and most will serve refreshments during the tour hours.

Homes on the tour include the home of Ronald and Faye Mosley at 6 Rollins Place; Lucille King Swift at 11 Rollins Place; Elyan and Carolyn Blanton at 2025 Rockaway Creek Road; Wayne and Sherry Fayard and 2021 Rockaway Creek Road and the Gibbs home at 402 S Pensacola Ave. The First Presbyterian Church at 208 E. Horner St. has also been included on the tour. Businesses planning to be open during the tour include Coley Petals and Parties at 301 N. Main St.; Jus Because at 111 W. Nashville Ave.; The Beans Store at 132 S. Main St.; and Atmore Florist on S. Main St.

Tickets for the tour are on sale at Central Farm Supply on N. Trammel Street and at the offices of “The Atmore News” on South Main Street. Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the tour at any location included in the event.

For detailed descriptions of homes, church and businesses included in the 2010 Tour of Homes, see next Wednesday’s edition of The Atmore Advance.