For more than half a century, people have been peeking into the homes of Marietta residents at Christmastime. The 55th annual Marietta Candlelight Tour of Homes will continue this tradition on Sunday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"We have eight homeowners who have graciously opened their homes and decorated them in their own style for Christmas," said Jason Spickler, who is co-chair of the tour along with Rebecca Baltozer. The tour is hosted by the Marietta Restoration Associates (MRA), who operate the Old Town Hall Museum, 3 W. Walnut St., and the Union Meeting House, 80 N. Waterford Ave., which will be part of the tour as well. A tree lighting and an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus will take place at the Old Town Hall Museum at 5 p.m. Throughout the day, the Union Meeting House will feature dance demonstrations by World Dance Lancaster as well as Christmas music played on an 1847 Henry Knauff pipe organ. The site will also feature a Make-A-Wish Christmas tree.

Spickler noted that this year's tour includes at least three homes that have never been featured before. "We try to get a variety of homes," he said. "That's why people come back year after year, because they are not going to see the same things."

A search committee begins looking for homes to feature early in the year, he said, and although some homes have been featured in the tour more than once, the committee tries not to revisit a site for at least five years.

Tourgoers will receive a booklet as their ticket, and it will include a map of the tour stops along with information about friends of the MRA businesses and organizations in town. The tour also features an option to travel to stops by bus. Participants can park and board the bus in the Donegal Intermediate School parking lot, 1177 River Road, or can park in town and board anywhere along the route.

The tour is a fundraiser for the MRA, which has worked to restore many of the public buildings in Marietta. "Our organization has been instrumental over the years in helping to preserve historic landmarks in town," Spickler stated.

He added that although Marietta is full of older homes, the tour offers a chance to see a variety of places. "We have homes in town that are modern. We have homes that were built in the early 1800s. It's really an eclectic mix," he said. "It's about how the homeowners choose to decorate their homes and what their style is. You never know what they're going to surprise you with when you walk in the door."

Advance tickets are available for the tour at several locations, which are listed at http://www.mariettarestoration.org. There is a discount for purchasing tickets in advance, but tickets can also be purchased at the event in the Donegal Intermediate School parking lot; at the First National Bank building, 100 W. Market St.; or at the Old Town Hall Museum.