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STEUBENVILLE - The Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County is getting into the Christmas spirit as it kicks off a first-time event - the Out 'n About with the Library Holiday Home Tour.

It will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 and can accommodate a maximum of 50 participants, according to Jennifer Cesta, the library's public relations coordinator.

Potential tour-goers must register and have a library card by the day of the tour, which is free. Library cards are free to Ohio residents and $5 for out-of-state families, said Cesta, who can be contacted at (740) 282-9782 for information or to register.

"We will meet at the main library at 11 a.m. From there, participants will receive directions to each person's home," Cesta explained. "Transportation is on their own. I will put people in groups and send each group to start at a different home so all are not at one place at one time."

The main library's holiday open house for the public coincides with the tour date and will feature several activities. The Steubenville High School Art Club, for example, will showcase its art of children's characters made from plaster figures. At noon the Brilliant Christian Church Choir will sing holiday songs, and 1 p.m., Brenda Johnson, a children's author and former library assistant, will read and sign copies of her book, "The Bow on the Train." Children can decorate a holiday cookie at 1:30 p.m.

On the tour are:

Larry Caniff of Steubenville with his Shelley's Creek & Western Railroad train display.

The home of Forrest and Tami Wietfeld in Wintersville. "I love Christmas," said Tami, owner of her home-based Tinsel and Trim decorating business. "Christmas is my favorite time of year. A Mingo Junction native, Tami promises decorated trees will be in most every room done to different themes from snowflakes and stars to angels and a nature theme in honor of her husband being a hunting enthusiast. The tree in their 8-year-old son Colton's room features toys.

The home of Richard and Toni Heavilin in Hopedale. This home features a 13-foot tree and staircase decorated in crystal beaded swags, large clusters of red and gold balls and tiny lights with a huge wreath suspended 13 feet in the air at the center of the staircase, a large train with Santa hauling gifts and an outdoor scene with several smaller trees surrounding a bear.

The dining room features life-sized carolers holding music books and dressed in red and green velvet and a life-size snowman. Old-fashioned dolls sit beneath a large wreath on the fireplace. A display of snowmen are in the living room, and the kitchen features a Christmas village display. From the balcony is Santa's workshop with illuminated Christmas packages.

"I do this out of love for my family," Toni said of her time spent decorating as her family, which includes four sons and 10 grandchildren, look forward to seeing the holiday transformation. "The decorations are for them."

The home of Derek and Lisa Ferguson in Wintersville. Visitors can expect to see a variety of themes carried out in the rooms of their residence.

"The homes are in no particular order," Cesta explained. Groups will be formed but not traveling together and then are invited to stop by Cesta's home in Wintersville for light appetizers afterward.

Apollo Professional Cleaning is donating booties for participants to wear in the homes toured.

The holiday tour is part of the library's Out 'n About with the Library series initiated this year.

"Programs we offer mirror what you will find on our book shelves," Cesta said, noting that decorating and home improvement materials at the library, for example, prove popular.

The off-site programs have been organized for a number of reasons, according to Cesta. "The programs we would like to offer are not always conducive to the library facility," she said.

"For instance, two of the off-site programs were wine related - wine tasting at Valley Wine Cellar in Wintersville and a wine and cheese tasting at Coffee Cake Winery in Hopedale. Cooking demonstrations also are popular but without an oven or stove, the library is limited to what can be demonstrated. We also had a tea party at DiGregory's where Lou DiGregory showed and talked about plant care," she added

The off-site programs have been well received.

"Library customers old and new have expressed enjoyment in going to programs outside the library," Cesta said.

"They laugh when asked to raise their hands in unison to show their library card. I always try to educate, enlighten and entertain when organizing programs. Next year, we will do another series of off-site programs," Cesta said.

(Kiaski can be contacted at jkiaski@heraldstaronline.com.)