Festive Ridgely homes on display in Whimsical Wonderland Tour Dec. 5

Joyce Barnes and a happy snowman are ready to welcome visitors. The snowman, who detects movement and then beings singing "Frosty the Snowman," is one of several snowmen featured in her home during the holidays. The home of Melvin and Joyce Barnes is one of five homes featured on the Whimsical Wonderland Tour of homes Dec. 5 in Ridgely. [Click to enlarge]

When you step inside the home of Melvin and Joyce Barnes at this time of year, you enter a winter wonderland of snowmen and holiday cheer.

Snowmen of every size, shape and material can be found throughout the home. One snowman, about the same size as Joyce Barnes, sings and dances.

Joyce, 68, said she always decorates her entire home - including the bathroom. Far from being overdone, the home takes on a warm, festive atmosphere.

"I guess I'm like a kid," she said.

Children love to spend time in one of the guest bedrooms, which is filled with holiday treasures of a special kind. Each item does something special: they move or sing or tell stories. For example, a cardinal pops out of a birdhouse to sing "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas." Santa reads "The Night Before Christmas."

A small Christmas tree on the nightstand features ornaments from the places the Barneses have visited, such as Disneyland, Catalina Island, Lake Arrowhead and, for their 50th anniversary, Hawaii.

Joyce Barnes hangs ornaments on the Christmas tree in her living room. The tree is one of many throughout her home. She said she decorates every room in the house for the holidays. The home of Melvin and Joyce Barnes is one of five homes featured on the Whimsical Wonderland Tour of homes Dec. 5 in Ridgely. [Click to enlarge]

A tree in another room features dried hydrangeas that grew in her backyard.

Joyce Barnes covered the fireplace mantel in the den with greenery, ribbons, small trees, glass ornaments and stockings. A group of animated carolers is happily seated on the hearth and a Christmas tree in the corner is loaded down with ornaments.

The Barneses - and four more Ridgely families - plan to open their homes to the public on Dec. 5 during the Whimsical Wonderland Tour.

Participating homes include:

* Melvin and Joyce Barnes, 502 North St. A bake sale will be held at the Barnes' home.

* Richard and Jan Platt, 405 Poplar St.

* Michael and Angie Parker, 559 N. Headden Drive.

* Bill Davis, 221 Poplar St.

* John and Donna Moore, 780 Madie Road.

The holiday home tour will be held 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in Ridgely. Advance tickets are $5 a person and may be obtained from any member of the Ridgely Woman's Club or from Dorothy's Famous Food in Ridgely.

Lights and ribbons and holiday décor create a welcoming entrance to the home of Melvin and Joyce Barnes in Ridgely. Their home is one of five featured in the Dec. 5 Whimsical Wonderland Tour of homes.

The tour is sponsored by the Ridgely Woman's Club, which supports community activities such as hanging flags on Highway 78, supporting the Ridgely Public Library, the Lara Kendall School spelling bee and sometimes providing Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for needy families.