Organizers of the Grand Ole Dames Tour of Homes Sunday could not have asked for a better day to celebrate the holiday season in Atmore.

Brisk temperatures kept the nearly 100 participants bundled up and in the festive spirit as they toured five homes, a church and four businesses as part of the annual event.

“It was a beautiful day, even though it was cold,” Earline Odom, one of the tour’s organizers, said. “Overall, it was a wonderful day.”

The event, which raised money for those in need, helped usher in the holiday season by offering residents access to homes decorated for Christmas. Homes included in the tour were Lucille King Swift (11 Rollins Pl.), Ronald and Faye Mosley (6 Rollins Pl.), Mary Gibbs (402 S. Pensacola Ave.), Elyan and Carolyn Blanton (2025 Rockaway Creek Rd.) and Wayne and Sherry Fayard (2021 Rockaway Creek Rd.). Odom said the willingness of the homeowners to give tours was greatly appreciated.

“We had a wonderful tour and we appreciate all of the homeowners that put their homes on tour and all of the people who bought tickets,” she said.

The First Presbyterian Church, located at 208 E. Horner St., was also a part of the tour and Atmore Florist, South Main St.; The Bean Store, 132 S. Main St.; Coley Petals and Parties, 301 N. Main St. and Jus Because, 111 W. Nashville Ave. were all open for business during the event.

Swift’s home features a Christmas tree in the living room area with festive decorations throughout. Stockings also hung from the decorated mantle of the fireplace and the outside of the home featured a Santa Claus and numerous wreaths and bows.

Each room of the Mosley home features homemade decorations including bows, wreaths and floral arrangements. The home features five Christmas trees including a small tree on the front porch and a purple tree in a child’s bedroom.

The Gibbs home adorned thousands of antiques including Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola memorabilia, collectible tins, glassware and more. The entrance to the home is decorated festively with wreaths, garland and bows, and also features a lectern with a Bible placed upon it and a sign that simple reads, “pray.” The home also features a prayer room and present room filled with wrapped presents for Christmas morning.

Carolyn Blanton began decorating her home in September in order to ensure the hundreds of decorations it features were ready for the holiday season. The home displays numerous homemade decorations including bows and pillows made to look like presents. Every room in the home is decorated from the living room to kitchen to bedrooms, even the laundry room, which features a small Christmas tree. The home also features a Christmas village and numerous floral arrangements and wreaths. The outside of the home is also adorned with wreaths, bows, garland and other festive decorations.

Each room of the Fayard home is also decorated and took well over two months to prepare. The home features a large foyer decorated with a massive Christmas tree, poinsettias and a sizeable nutcracker midway up the stairway. It also features a dining room and large kitchen decorated for the season as well as a great room with large fireplace, also decorated for the holiday. The home also features a considerable sized Christmas village.

Several of the homeowners also offered visitors a variety of holiday drinks including punch and wassel, as well as, Christmas treats such as peanut butter balls, fudge, cakes, candies and much more.