For 10 years the Berwick & Area Christmas House Tour and Tea has been shining the spotlight on holiday hospitality for a worthy cause. The event, which takes place Dec. 9, was established as a way to raise funds to support local families at Christmas.

Event organizer Donna Conrad says over the years the event has grown through the continued support of the local community and has contributed to various charities. This year a tour of four homes will be followed by a tea and silent auction at Berwick and District School. Conrad adds a "very creative group of families will be your hosts this year."

First time hosts John and Louise Rainforth of Berwick will open their Marsters Avenue home for the tour as will repeat hosts Judy and Medford Burrows who own and operate the Hidden Gardens Bed and Breakfast on Main Street, Berwick.

"Here you will also find two local massage therapists, Angela Parsons and Kate Cyr, who will be giving mini massages with proceeds to the pediatrics Unit of the Valley Regional Hospital," said Conrad.

For the first time the tour will travel to Cambridge Woods subdivision to enjoy Christmas traditions with two families, Monique & Mike Ouellette and Suzanne and Kevin Young.

Suzanne Young says her two young daughters provide the inspiration for her Christmas decorating.

"It is so fun to see the excitement in their eyes and it is also important for us, for our friends and family to feel welcome and relaxed at our home."

She adds visitors to their home will enjoy the "Father Christmas" theme in the family room and "a smattering of treasured items throughout it that we have either bought or made over the years." Other traditional items such as angels, gingerbread, reindeers and snowmen also figure prominently in the family's decorating scheme.

"The girls even have their own tree upstairs that they are responsible for and it is re-decorated many times over in the days leading up to Christmas," adds Suzanne.

Doors to the host homes open at 1 p.m. and the tea begins at 2:30. In the tradition of giving to others, donations of non-perishable item for the local food bank will be gratefully accepted at the tea. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Wilsons Pharmasave in Berwick, B&B Paper Plus, Absolutely Fabulous Bed, Bath and Home in New Minas and RE/MAX in Kentville and Middleton. For more information call 679-0700.