Enjoy the gift of Marietta at the 26th Annual Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour on Dec. 1 to 2. Tour six private historic homes in the Church-Cherokee Street Historic District as well as public buildings along the route.

“It’s just a great feeling when the whole town comes together to celebrate (Marietta),” said Jennifer Brett Gay whose home is on tour.

Gay, a columnist, is married to Charles Gay and moved to Atlanta area in 1998 from Florida for her work with the Atlanta Journal & Constitution. She writes the Peach Buzz.

The Home Tour provides Marietta a way to support the community.

“Living in Marietta is something special. Marietta retains these charming, very significant properties. The tour gives everyone a way to embrace that. It’s a way to support your town. It’s a way to show pride in living here. It gives everybody a chance to be an ambassador for Marietta,” Gay said.

Gay, who grew up in a small North Carolina town and her husband in Savannah, said, “Marietta very much felt like home. Marietta’s small town charm appealed to us. Marietta was the only choice for us.”

Gay is a longtime supporter of the Home Tour. The Gay’s first Marietta home on Pomeroy Street (off Whitlock Ave) was on the Home Tour in 2002. She has served in various capacities for prior tours and even co-chaired the tour.

“The Marietta Pilgrimage Tour is a Christmas gift to the whole town,” she said.

Gay’s favorite part of the year is Gala Celebration on Friday night that kicks off the Home Tour.

“You see people you don’t run into otherwise. It’s a great time to reconnect,” she said.

“(Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour) makes you proud to live here. It’s great to know so many different people have a shared love for Marietta. It gets you in the Christmas spirit,” Gay said.

The Gala will be held Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at First Landmark Bank, 307 North Marietta Parkway Northeast in Marietta. A day tour runs Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Candlelight Tour is Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Day tour tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the tour. Candlelight Tour tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the tour. Combination ticket is $25 in advance and $30 the day of the tour. Gala tickets $85 and limited in number.

To purchase tickets to the Gala or Tour visit www.mariettapilgrimage.com. For more information, contact the Marietta Visitors Bureau at (770) 429-1115 or Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society at (770) 426-4982.

Marietta Pilgrimage tour homes
I. The Lemmon-Rector-Kirby House,

c. 1926 (Gala)

Gene Rector and Clark Kirby

163 Seminole Drive

Marietta, 30060

II. The Dodd-Cook-Lloyd House,

c. 1926 (Gala)

Kelly & Edward Lloyd

34 Hillside Avenue

Marietta, 30060

III The Simpson-Moor-Pearlberg House,

c. 1907 (Candlelight)

Van & Patti Pearlberg

383 Church Street

Marietta, 30060

IV. The Cogburn-Hyde-Roland House,

c. 1905 (Candlelight)

Mark & Ann Roland

382 Church Street

Marietta, GA 30060

V. The Blair-Runyon-Gay House

c. 1900 (Gala)

Jennifer & Charles Gay

26 Sessions Street

Marietta, 30060

VI. The Morris-Gantt-Stark House,

c. 1896 (Candlelight)

Mike Stark

343 Church Street

Marietta, 30060