The holiday season has become a catalyst for community-driven design showcases, and this year the tradition expands across state lines. In both Texas and Wisconsin, carefully curated residences welcome the public for a holiday home tour that blends spectacular décor with a charitable purpose. Visitors can wander through architecturally significant homes, admire curated Christmas trees, and purchase tickets knowing that their money fuels local nonprofits.
Both events share a common thread: they are organized by leading real-estate and civic groups that aim to highlight regional craftsmanship while raising funds for children and athletes in need. The result is a dual-city celebration that merges aesthetic inspiration with tangible community impact.
Southlake’s fifth holiday home tour highlights
On Sunday, December 6, 2026, the city of Southlake will open four of its most distinctive properties for a self-guided walk-through that runs from noon to five p.m. Engel & Völkers, a global luxury-real-estate firm, serves as the presenting sponsor, ensuring a polished experience for the roughly 250 attendees expected each hour. Each house has been decked out in a unique interpretation of winter cheer, ranging from towering, whimsical Christmas trees to outdoor patios illuminated with string lights.
The tour’s leadership includes Abby Waterstreet, president of The Gifting Project Southlake and a senior advisor at Engel & Völkers, alongside committee co-chairs Roxann Taylor and Amber Butcher. Waterstreet notes, “Bringing this event to life each year is a true labor of love, and it simply wouldn’t be possible without the passion, dedication, and leadership of Roxann and Amber.” The houses showcase a blend of classic Southern-Texas architecture and contemporary interior design, offering visitors insight into how holiday accents can transform everyday spaces.
All proceeds—$40 per ticket purchased in advance—are earmarked for two beneficiaries: The Gifting Project Southlake, which furnishes three wish-list gifts to local children each year, and Special Olympics Texas, an organization that provides continuous sports training for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Ticket buyers receive a digital map that guides them from one home to the next, allowing a seamless and leisurely exploration of Southlake’s festive spirit.
Wauwatosa Woman’s Club opens six Ravenswood homes
Just a day earlier, on Saturday, December 5, the Wauwatosa Woman’s Club will host its annual Holiday Home Tour in the historic Ravenswood neighborhood of Wisconsin. Six homes—five fully staged residences and a special “cookie house”—are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event draws on a mixture of architectural styles, including Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Mediterranean Revival, and Mid-Century Modern, providing a cross-section of early-to-mid-20th-century design.
Among the featured properties, the Trevey Home (built 1923) showcases original walnut woodwork uncovered during recent renovations, while the Ferger Home (1939) proudly displays a family’s cherished Disney ornament collection. The Boxell home, a 1965 Mid-Century Modern gem, is notable for its original tile and a towering book-shaped Christmas tree crafted by the owners. The Bergan residence (1942) offers an expansive screened porch and a live-tree foyer centerpiece, and the McCracken house (1930 Spanish Revival) balances historic French doors with a vintage aluminum tree in the dining room.
The “cookie house,” a 1938 Tudor Revival that has served as the tour’s headquarters since 2018, provides a bake-sale featuring dozens of homemade treats. Proceeds from the cookie sales and ticket sales—$35 for early-bird buyers, $40 at the door—support the same charities as the Southlake event, reinforcing a shared philanthropic mission across state lines.
Charitable impact and ticket information
Both tours direct funds to The Gifting Project Southlake and Special Olympics Texas. The Gifting Project’s model delivers three personalized gifts to children identified through local schools and social services, ensuring each holiday feels tailored and meaningful. Meanwhile, Special Olympics Texas leverages the donations to fund year-round athletic training, competition travel, and community-building activities for athletes of all ages.
Ticketing for Southlake is managed through the event’s dedicated portal (/e/holidayhometour2026), where buyers receive a confirmation email containing the tour map. Wauwatosa tickets can be purchased online at or in person at several neighborhood businesses, with on-day sales handled at the Cookie House. Both events encourage attendees to plan ahead, as limited capacity may result in wait-lists for last-minute visitors.
The December 5-6 weekend offers two distinct yet complementary experiences: Southlake’s polished, luxury-focused showcase and Ravenswood’s eclectic, historic-home parade. Whether you are a design enthusiast, a family looking for festive inspiration, or a community supporter eager to contribute, these holiday home tours provide a perfect blend of visual delight and charitable goodwill.
