Decorating one of the trees featured in this year's Trees of Christmas Tour are St. Patrick Catholic School students, from right, Sophie Hines, Juwel Caffey, Kaitlyn Caffey and Virginia Pressly. Trees decorated will feature a fairy tale theme and St. Patrick chose "The Frog Prince."

    Two of Meridian’s most recognized historic homes will be bustling with activity during the holidays.

    Merrehope and F.W. Williams Home will be decked out for the holidays for tours as well as special events surrounding the Meridian Restorations Foundation’s 42nd Annual Trees of Christmas.

    “Trees of Christmas is a holiday tradition for this area,” said Betty Lou Jones, foundation president. “Most children remember their visits to Trees of Christmas with warm toasty memories of beautiful Christmas experiences in the treasurers of our town, Merrehope and F.W. Williams Home.”

    The Meridian Restorations Foundation will kick off the holiday season in Meridian with Thursday’s Opening Candlelight Gala at Merrehope, from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

    “We invite everyone to ‘Get Your Merry On!,” Jones said, adding that the gala will be complete with creative decorations, beautiful music and delicious refreshments. “Merry attire” is recommended.

    The Trees of Christmas tour begins Friday and continues to Dec. 31. “Once Upon a Time” is the theme for this year’s tour, which features 17 trees decorated by community volunteers, clubs, churches and schools and representing a fairy tale.

    “‘Once Upon a Time’ evokes emotions of excitement and wonder and invites you on a journey which promises adventure, fantasy, even romance,” Jones said. “We all have favorite fairy tales and the 2010 Trees of Christmas will be a wonderful way to relive our childhood dreams through the depiction of our favorite traditional and contemporary fairy tales in the form of beautifully decorated Christmas Trees.” 

    Fairy tales featured include “King Midas,” “The Snow Queen,” “All Things Told,” “The Frog Prince,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Elves and the Shoemaker,” “Thumbelina,” “The Ginger Bread Boy,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “The Brennan Town Musicians,” “The Tales of Peter Rabbit,” “The Three Little Pigs,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” “The House That Jack Built,” and “Pinnochio.” Displays will also include the traditional Merrehope Tree, The Victorian Tree, a handmade ceramic manger scene and doll collections.

    Daily tours are scheduled at the homes, Monday through Friday; closed Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

    Other scheduled events at the home include a Pancake Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 4, from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

    Also that day, a Merry, Merry Merrehope Champagne Brunch will be held at 12:30 p.m. Reservations are required for the event.

    “This is a fantastic way to entertain special friends or relatives with a special holiday experience,” Jones said.

    Proceeds from all events will benefit the restoration and maintenance of Merrehope and the F.W. Williams Home, both state landmarks and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

    “Thousands of tourists visit these homes each year to learn of Meridian’s history, and local citizens enjoy these homes as a major part of our heritage,” Jones said.

    Merrehope and F.W. Williams Home are located at 905 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Drive.