By PAT NEWMAN
Staff Writer

Holiday tourists will be greeted by themed Christmas trees, armies of Santas and the sounds of carols next Saturday when they make the rounds of beautifully appointed homes on tour in Fayette County.

Sponsored by supporters of the Fayette County High School Band, the tour begins at noon and ends at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the seasonal event will go toward the cost of the band's September trip to Australia for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.

The homes selected for the tour range from the traditional to the whimsical. Tammy Leslie's home at Whitewater is decorated in elegant whites and golds. Long tassels and European-style Santas mix with traditional greenery wrapped around the stairwell's bannisters. One of her favorite traditions is having her 6- and 9-year-old daughters decorate their bedrooms.

Noel November was the source of one daughter's dream tree, a tiny fir decorated by the Indian guides and princesses of the Fayette Family YMCA. Another tree in the sun room announces, it's “bug” inning to look a lot like Christmas. Decorated by TCIS, the tree is alive with jeweled dragonflies, butterflies and other fanciful flying insects.

On the other end of the spectrum is the home of Peter and Yvonne McCarron in the Stanley Oaks subdivision. “I think of it as a traditional, whimsical cottage look,” McCarron said of her home. “There's nothing serious, it's all charming.” As an artist, McCarron has filled her living quarters with original paintings and adorned the walls with painted apple trees, a barn and chickens.

Paul and Melody Ray's home in The Woodlands has an antique flavor. According to Ray, there's a tree in every room. “I also have a lot of Santa Clauses. I've been accumulating then for about 32 years,” she said.

“The main tree is totally decorated in glass figurines,” she noted, “the old European-style ornaments.” The home is furnished with family antiques and Ray's china collection.

Five trees light up John and Doe Evans home, also in The Woodlands, along with a variety of Santas. “I call it the Santa house,” Evans said. A special tree featured in her daughter's room is a gold and black “Tiger” themed tree decorated by Jan's Florist on Glynn Street. Evans said that between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan's will donate 10 percent of sales to the Fayette County Band fund.

A sports tree wrapped in a sports card garland is the key attraction in Evans' son's room.

An oak sleigh filled with wrapped presents and toys is the focal point of the Evanses' landing.

Members of the school band will play at several locations and refreshments will be served along the way.

There are seven homes altogether on the tour. Tickets can be purchased by phoning the Fayette County High School band room at 770-719-2112 or can be obtained for $12 at By Invitation Only on Glynn Street across from the Courthouse before Saturday. Tickets are $15 on the day of the tour.

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