TOUR OF HOMES AHEAD — Joel John adjusts an ornament on the Christmas tree at his Wintersville home. John again has organized the Homes for Hope Tour for a Cure, a tour of many homes decorated for the holidays that will raise money for patients at Trinity Health System’s Teramana Cancer Center. -- Warren Scott

WINTERSVILLE — Residents across the Tri-State Area will be opening their homes to visitors this Christmas while helping to raise money for patients treated at Trinity Health System’s Teramana Cancer Center.

Since 2017, Joel John has been arranging for area residents to get a look at the variety of ways fellow community members decorate their homes for the holidays while raising money for the center’s Trinity Emergency Assistance Relief Fund.

The fund is used to aid cancer patients with expenses ranging from utility and mortgage payments to transportation to medical appointments.

For most of the last several years, John has organized the Homes for Hope Tour for a Cure, in which participants take a self-guided tour of area homes decorated for the holidays.

John said this year’s tour will include a dozen stops, including the Jefferson County Historical Museum in Steubenville; the Best You Boutique, a Weirton business; and 10 residences whose owners have agreed to welcome visitors in to view their holiday decorating efforts.

Of the various decorating motifs to be found, John said, “There’s country, there’s traditional, every style possible this year. There’s a little something for everybody to see.”

John noted participants will be able to make as many stops as they wish between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 13, but they must purchase tickets at his shop, Exquisite Creations by Joel, in advance or on that day and sign a liability waiver for the homeowners’ protection.

The cost is $20, and each participant will receive a wristband so homeowners will know who they are.

Participants will find the homes’ exterior lighting on and a purple ribbon displayed outside. For each stop they make, they will receive a chance in a drawing for a $100 gift certificate for John’s store.

No more than 100 tickets will be sold.

John noted the tour has been extended this year to stops outside Jefferson County, in Weirton and Imperial, Pa., but all are relatively close.

They include homes at 436 county Highway 60, Bergholz; 3686 county Road 39, Bloomingdale; 282 Orlando Manor, Wintersville; 208 South Avalon Ave., Wintersville; 4636 Lexington Drive, Steubenville; 4501 Fairway Drive, Steubenville; 107 Pullman Circle, Mingo Junction; 3 Equestrian Drive, Imperial; 6 Equestrian Drive, Imperial; and 20 Equestrian Drive, Imperial; the Jefferson County Historical Museum at 426 Franklin Ave., Steubenville; and the Best You Boutique at 113 Mill Road, Weirton.

John said at the start of each year, it often seems as though he won’t have enough homes to showcase but as time passes, “I end up getting more (volunteers) than I need.”

But that just leaves him with stops to add next year, as he enjoys offering new destinations from year to year, while some repeat homeowners like to change their approach each year.

John said though he sells many Christmas decorations at his store, most of the homes haven’t been decorated by him.

He said he chose the T.E.A.R. Fund to benefit from the event because his grandfather, Mike Hornyak, died from cancer in 2016.

John said the tour has raised about $2,000 for the cause each year and a total of about $15,000.

He said the tour often draws repeat participants from year to year.

“It’s become a holiday tradition for some,” said John.

He said the experience often is a reminder of days of old, when many homes were visited by neighbors and extended family members.

John himself recalls childhood Christmases when he visited several family members’ homes.

“There’s something about the magic of that day,” he said.