One of the most anticipated events of the year was held Dec. 8 in homes and iconic landmarks throughout the community.
The Arts Council of Plant City has held the Tour of Homes event, which offers members of the community a chance to go on a curated tour of lavishly decorated homes and some of Plant City’s hidden gems, for more than 30 years. Titled “At Home for the Holidays,” the event ran for nearly four hours and cars were lined up and down the blocks surrounding each house.
Held each December, the event is a festive holiday fundraiser that has drawn hundreds of attendees time and again. The money raised from the event provides scholarships to graduating seniors furthering their education in the visual, performing or culinary arts.
A self-guided event, attendees pop in and out of the highlighted destinations at their leisure. Many started at the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center for sparkling punch and sweet treats before piling into their vehicles with their friends and heading to their first stop. This year, in addition to the three dazzling homes, attendees also were treated to a special holiday tour of the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum.
The homeowners once again went above and beyond with their decor, tying in modern styles with a flair of traditional elegance. Some put new twists on Christmas trees by using dress forms to create a tree-themed dress. Others proved that detail makes the space with elaborate holiday-themed adornments on their light fixtures and even handwritten letters to Santa on their desks. The depot was transformed into a winter wonderland complete with twinkling snowflakes, Christmas trees in every room, presents ready to be loaded onto Santa’s caboose and even Mr. Claus himself.
For more information, visit plantcityarts.com or follow @ArtsCouncilOfPlantCity on Facebook.