It just wouldn’t be Christmas in Waterloo without the Waterloo High School Band Parents’ annual Candlelight House Tour of beautifully decorated homes.

The 22nd annual event takes place this Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. Five homes will be featured, along with Peterstown House, where refreshments will be served at the end of the tour.

Advanced tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased at First National Bank of Waterloo, Mill Street Treasures, State Bank of Waterloo, World of Difference, Bountiful Blossoms, Family Video, or from any WHS band student.

Tickets the night of the event are $12.

For more information, call 618-497-4224 or 618-980-4097.

Here are descriptions of the stops along this year’s tour.

Huffman House

This newly constructed home is all decked out for the holidays for the first time. Among the decorations are three full-size trees, a miniature village, several small trees and decorations throughout the house that create a warm, welcoming  holiday atmosphere.

Waterloo Inn Bed & Breakfast

You will enjoy touring this historic home built in 1852. Back in the day, it was a country home north of the Waterloo city limits. Today, the home is used as a charming bed and breakfast updated to give modern-day travelers a warm and comfortable stay. The inn is a showcase of historic architecture decorated with a mix of antiques and collectibles.

With Christmas season approaching, you’ll find Christmas trees in every room and a beautiful fireplace with mantel and restored custom built surround facing decorated with garland and ornaments. Among the many trees, tour attendees will find a nine-foot live tree trimmed in Victorian-era beauty.

Dillenberger home

Guests of the Candlelight House Tour are sure to enjoy the Dillenberger home built by Brad and Elise Finnerty in 2001. There is beautiful woodwork throughout the house and amazing wooden beam ceilings on the first floor.

The tree in the living room is covered in Department 56 and Patience Brewster ornaments. Another tree inside the home is amassed with family ornaments and many Hallmark collectibles.

Schultheis Home

Upon entering the Schultheis home, attendees will notice how the residence is transformed for the holidays. Everywhere you look, there is Christmas making it to where you can’t help but get into the spirit of the season. Every room has a tree, and there are five seven-foot trees. The other trees are two to three feet tall. One of those trees is a metal silver tree that is three generations old. There also are several collections such penguins, snowmen, gingerbread, and small villages.

Cooperman Home

The Cooperman home is a  nearly 100-year-old dwelling festooned with handmade wreaths and garland; a train set chugging around a live tree trimmed with crystal and handpainted ornaments; a formal dining room set with old-fashioned china and silver for a party; and not only a creche, but miniature scenes from the Holy Land.

Peterstown House

This year, the house tour concludes with the historic Peterstown House for a look into Waterloo’s past — plus refreshments. The former Kaskaskia Trail stagecoach stop is now the proud home of the Peterstown Heritage Society, who restored the 1800s home. Take a step back into the early days of Waterloo and view the many treasures displayed in the museum.

Attendees will also find the museum beautifully decorated for the Christmas season. Have you ever wondered what a goose-feather Christmas tree looked liked? You’ll find one in the parlor of the museum. The tree dates back to the 1880s and is decorated with simple white candles and antiques ornaments. At the base of the tree is an antique nativity scene from Italy.

Climb the stairs on the second floor, and at the landing you will find a large Christmas tree decorated in red and white ornaments. From there you will enter the ballroom, which features a large Christmas tree decorated in a Victorian theme.

In addition to the trees, this house is filled with fresh holly and  natural garlands and dehydrated oranges. Above the front door is a fresh fruit display of apples and a pineapple.

This decoration idea was brought home from Colonial Williamsburg, Va. The pineapple is a sign of welcoming and hospitality.