The Friends of the Library held its fifth annual Christmas Tour of Homes Sunday afternoon, raising $1,870 before expenses for the nonprofit group.

The tour featured three houses in the heart of Natchez: the Lawrence House and Peter Crist House at 206 and 200 S. Martin Luther King Jr. St., respectively, and the Suber House at 900 Main St.

&uot;This is such a wonderful introduction to the holidays,&uot; said Mary Jane Gaudet of Natchez, who toured all three homes. &uot;It is everything Natchez is — beautiful homes, wonderful people, and a celebration of life, friends and good causes.&uot;

In all, 187 people bought tickets to tour the homes, which were decorated for Christmas in styles ranging from simple and elegant to festive and elaborate, each home featuring painstakingly decorated trees.

Each family with a home on tour spent the days from Thanksgiving until the tour hurriedly decorating for the occasion.

&uot;It makes me appreciate the people who have their homes on tour every year,&uot; said Gayle Henry, who owns the Lawrence House with her husband, Michael. The Henrys just finished renovations Thursday, including repairing columns and painting porches.

&uot;But it’s for such a wonderful cause, and the people who come through certainly seem to enjoy it,&uot;&160;said Carolyn Tillman, who owns the Peter Crist House with her husband, John. &uot;And it makes you get your home decorated early for the holidays.&uot;

Barry and Nancy Suber, and a college roommate of Nancy’s who came into town for the occasion, decorated their Main Street house from ceiling to floor with holiday decorations.

Every room had a tree, some of them towering cedars with bows and ornaments. There was one devoted to rabbits — with carrot-shaped lights — as well as one with the theme of Santa at the beach and a miniature tree covered with buttons from presidential campaigns.

&uot;Given the current election situation, we thought it was kind of fitting,&uot;&160;Nancy Suber said before going back to greet guests enjoying refreshments in the living room.