It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Albemarle as seven homes gear up for the annual holiday tour of homes on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 2 until 6 p.m.

The event will feature homes on Third and Tenth streets, as well as Prestwick Place, West Main, Arbor Way and Lafayette Drive. The event is part of the sesquicentennial activities planned throughout the coming months and features some of Albemarle’s oldest homes.

In addition to the homes, the Freeman-Marks and Snuggs houses will also be open and decorated in historic period style.

An added attraction to this year’s event is the Christmas House located just outside of the city limits on Random Road in New London.

This local favorite features Santa and Mrs. Claus. Although the tour targets mainly adult visitors, this house is for the young and young-at-heart. So much in fact, that families can purchase a $5 ticket to visit only the Christmas House, share special wish lists with Santa and take children’s photos with him aboard his sleigh.

The stockings are being hung for a very special reason — children. The proceeds of the event will be used to purchase a much-needed sound system for the students of Central Elementary School.

To warm individuals touring homes along Third Street, Central Elementary School will be open offering hot cider and cookies. The new Central Elementary School, which is currently under construction, once again will also be open with guided tours for those interested in seeing the progress of renovation.

Third Street will see the most activity for this year’s tour with carolers from the West Stanly Colt Chorus stationed at the home of Rod Cotton on the corner of Third and North streets. Under the direction of Miena Powell, student carolers include Haile Adkins, Betsy Baker, Haley Deal, Samantha Hatley, Kayley Hopkins, Jessica Meadors, Anna Morgan, Charles Owens, Kayla Plummer, Erin Sikes and Lori Smith.

Those touring are also encouraged to wrap up the tour by having dinner at 304 Pontiac Pointe and presenting their ticket for a complimentary wine tasting and $5 off their entre & eacute; that evening.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 on the day of the tour and may be purchased from 304 Pontiac Pointe Restaurant or by calling 704-982-4923.

Christmas House single tickets for families are also available for only $5. Ticket holders are asked to begin the tour at Pontiac Pointe where they receive information and driving directions to all of the sites on tour.

This year’s tour is sponsored by Bank of Stanly, Albemarle’s 150th Committee and 304 Pontiac Pointe.

Featured home sites can be located by the site yard signs and include:

* Chris and Pat Bramlett, 315 S. Third St.;

* Lee and Mary Burt Allen, 227 N. Third St.;

* Carol Gulias, 719 W. Main St.;

* Garry and Ginger Spencer, 1403 Prestwick Place;

* Gary and Fran Bryan, 459 N. Tenth St.,

* Roger Thomas, 1015 Lafayette Drive;

* Chad and Maria Lowder, 1613 Arbor Way; and

* Bud and Dorothy Walck, 324 Random Road.