The two sentinels in full military dress guard the door. Their wooden faces may look intimidating, but they won’t prevent you from entering 411 River Road – they’re decoration-only. The life-sized nutcrackers are part of Attorney Will Mayo’s decorations for the annual Christmas Homes Tour.

Since 1999, Washington residents have opened their homes to the public for the event, a fundraiser for the Turnage Theater and a chance to have a peak into the lives, and decorations, of our neighbors. The tour, called “Christmas in the Park,” features seven homes in Washington Park.

“Last year, we had about 500 people,” said Mary Jane Cooke, one of the event organizers. “A lot of people love doing this – seeing an area they haven’t seen, seeing the houses…”

Mayo calls his home’s Christmas theme “a Williamsburg style,” with a pattern of real apples surrounding a centerpiece pineapple above the front door, complimenting the oversized, and fully functional, nutcrackers. Just down the road, Kaye Alligood will have her Santa and angel collections on display. A 1950s-era aluminum Christmas tree, one of the early artificial trees decorated in white, gold and silver, will be on display at the Edwards home on Bank Street.

“I’ve always thought it’s one of the better events of the year for Washington,” said Cooke.

To support the event, several Washington restaurants are offering 10-percent off lunch with presentation of the tour ticket. Those restaurants include La Bella Pizzeria, The Blue Door, Marabella, Down on Main Street, and the Meeting Place.

The Turnage Theater has been open for five years, but the Christmas Homes Tour has been a holiday mainstay for more than twice as many. In the early days of fundraising for the yet-to-be-renovated theater, the event quickly became a favorite.  As reported in the Daily News Wednesday, the Turnage will close its doors after the Tar River Swing Band’s “Big Band Christmas” on Dec. 16. All proceeds from Saturday’s Christmas Homes Tour will go to the theater’s outstanding debts.

The self-guided tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available for $20 at the Turnage Theater box office through Friday, then at 411 River Road on the day of the tour.

Christmas in the Park
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday

Take a stroll through Washington Park to see the holiday homes:

• The Alligood Home        414 River Road
• The Edwards Home       616 Bank St.
• The Gerard Home          520 Isabella Ave.
• The Lassiter Home        109 Isabella Ave.
• The Mayo Home            411 River Road
• The Wilder Home          216 College Ave.
• The Woolard Home       122 Spruce St.

Tickets can be purchased for $20 at the Turnage Theater box office until Friday and at 411 River Road the day of the event.