A Christmas tradition is at risk this year as the pool of home owners willing to put their homes on display appears to have grown small, indeed.

For 17 years, the Christmas Tour of Homes has been a highlight of the season, bringing visitors from across eastern North Carolina to parade through holiday homes throughout the county. Held in conjunction with the Hometown Holidays festivities in downtown Washington — a parade, a visit from Santa, children’s activities and store open houses — the annual event was originally launched by Jeffery Phipps as a fundraiser for the Turnage Theater Foundation, the past owner and the party responsible for restoring the early-20^th-century theater to its former glory. Once the theater closed, however, the homes tour had already been firmly established, and Arts of the Pamlico took it on as its own fundraiser, under the guidance of Pamlico House Bed & Breakfast owner, Washington City councilwoman and AOP staff member Virginia Finnerty.

Finnerty began asking homeowners in June to be a part of the event. Four responded in the positive, but four is not enough, when 10 to 12 homes have been on the tour’s schedule in every past year.

“It has been so sad this year. It’s almost like we tapped out of everybody who wants to open their home,” Finnerty said.

Since the tour is self-guided, organizers have opted to feature clusters of houses in various neighborhoods, so that the holiday tourists can do more touring and less driving. This year, Finnerty had hoped to feature clusters of houses in three areas: West Main Street, down River Road and in Smallwood.

Finnerty said she believes homeowners are reluctant to participate for two reasons: they think they have to decorate “to the nines” and they’re concerned that people will be tromping all over their houses. Neither is true, she said.

“The interesting part is that we don’t really ask people to do anything different. Do as little or as much as you usually do, and you show only the parts of the house that you want to show,” Finnerty said. “I mean, I remember one year, the house that’s at the end of the boulevard in Washington Park — they didn’t do a thing (decorating) because it’s just such a gorgeous home, and people loved it.”

She said that even those homeowners who are initially reluctant to sign their homes onto the tour find their concerns were unwarranted.

“Basically, it’s a bunch of ladies who are very appreciative of the homes and the kindness of the host. It’s a very pleasant experience for everybody. … When you talk to people who have done it, even the reluctant people loved it,” Finnerty said. “Honestly, everybody is so respectful. We’ve never had an issue of people mistreating a house.”

Finnerty said she’s still holding out hope that homeowners will volunteer their homes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 3. Otherwise, the Christmas Tour of Homes will have to be put on hold for a year — a shame for both participants who’ve put the tour on their holiday schedule for many years and for Arts of the Pamlico, she said.

“It’s (been) such a success. And we have people calling for tickets now. We spend no money; basically it’s our labor and volunteers and all the money … goes back into the arts council,” Finnerty said. “It’s a great cause. It’s really such a simple way to do something nice, to raise funds. … It’s like one big tea party all day long. People come in and ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’ and the arts council walks away with $6,000.”

Finnerty said any last-minute volunteers are welcome to call AOP at 252-946-2504.