Ever since she was a child, Britni Veretto’s family had one rule when it came to decorating for Christmas: go big.
So when her family was asked to be a participant in the Odessa Board of Realtors Christmas Tour of Homes in 2022, it wasn’t hard for Veretto to say yes to the opportunity.
Balloons, candy canes and inflatable Christmas lights welcomed visitors to her home while various rooms with halls and walls were fully decked with trees, stockings and Santas of various statures.
It was the most Veretto said she had put up for the holiday.
“Getting to take our decorating to the next level was amazing for us,” she said.
Four new families will welcome the Permian Basin into their homes this year for the 29th annual Christmas Tour of Homes. More than 14,000 people are expected from all over West Texas to visit.
The event is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Sunday, and will be a self-driven tour, Odessa Board of Realtors CEO Connie Coots said, meaning those who want to see the homes can start at any location they want.
Tickets will be electronic and are needed to visit the residences. General admission is $15 and can be purchased online. A $50 ticket for the Bubbly Bus — which includes cookies, champagne, caroling and Santa — will also be available.
Money raised goes towards scholarships for students at Odessa College, the University of Texas Permian Basin and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. In 2022, $13,000 went to each location and more than $200,000 total has been raised.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Coots said. “We get volunteers from the colleges, and we’ll even have students who have received a scholarship in the past help with the homes.”
Those selected for the Christmas Tour of Homes get notified early in the year and begin decorating at the beginning of fall.
Veretto said her family started setting up decorations in October before Halloween in order to be ready for the event, which happens on the first Sunday of December.
Decorating for Christmas is a family affair and is a multigenerational ordeal, Veretto added. Being able to share her passion for holiday decorating with the community, and raising money to go toward scholarships, made the event memorable.
“This is a community staple, and it gets to inspire others for their decorations,” Veretto said. “Every home is different and unique, so getting to be a part of this was great because decorating for Christmas is something I’ve been doing since I was a little girl.”
If you go
- What: Odessa Board of Realtors Christmas Tour of Homes.
- When: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
- Where: Four homes will be showcased: 3208 San Saba Drive; 52 Royal Manor Drove; 111 The Villas; 8209 Santa Fe Drive.
- Cost: General Admission is $15 and Bubbly Bus tickets are $50. Tickets are purchased online at tinyurl.com/yesf9zps
- Call: 432-362-8943
