By Karolyn Gephart
A traditional gateway into the holiday season in Friendswood begins with the Heritage Gardeners Annual Christmas Home Tour from November 23-24, 2024. The tour will offer four beautifully decorated private homes and the charming cottage that is the clubhouse. Tour hours are 1 to 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday.
On the tour this year will be the home of Sky Lyn and Tim Gibbons in Quaker’s Landing. More than 20 trees will be on site, each uniquely decorated with meaningful items to the owners. The home’s theme for the tour is A Collector’s Christmas. Trees will have antique childhood toys, European postcards from the past, fishing lures, wine corks, and Parisian mementos, to name a few. A collection of mantel angels that had belonged to her mom, Annette Williams, and a splendid Nativity set will also be on display.
Sky Lyn’s motto is “no bare walls,” and tourgoers will see what she means. The 5,400 sq. ft. home has 450 framed pictures and wall hangings in which a description and accurate count and location are kept in the family’s records.
Sky Lyn and Tim have two children: Maddy, working in New York, and Travis, at college in Austin. Sky Lyn is part owner of the former Brasserie 1895, now B1895 Tavern downtown on Friendswood Drive.
Tour tickets are available at Friendswood Chamber of Commerce, Friendswood Frame and Gallery, Silver Bee Boutique, Lary’s Designs, Marrone Market, Phoenix Cleaners, Two Friends Gifts, Wild Birds Unlimited of Pearland, Wild Birds Unlimited of Clear Lake, Friendswood Scoop Shop and Blue Goose Plant & House.
The Saturday/ Sunday tour of homes is always held on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Heritage Gardeners was organized in 1966, and the tours began that year. They have been held consistently every year since.
Along with the tours will be a holiday market of vendors offering holiday gifts for friends and family of all ages, Santa’s Bakery Shop, items that can be purchased to serve immediately or saved for Thanksgiving, and exciting raffle items. The market and bakery will be open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. The location will be 112 W. Spreading Oaks in Friendswood.
To get a sneak peek of the homes and to find out what vendors will be selling, follow Heritage Gardeners on Facebook.
