A Home of Heritage
CRANBERRY TWP — The Christmas House Tour has returned this year to Cranberry Township to get people in the holiday spirit and show off residents' unique decorating styles.
The Cranberry Women's Club is hosting the house tour from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at five houses throughout the township. A private collection of Nativity scenes and Santa figures will also be available for viewing at St. Ferdinand Roman Catholic Church's rectory. 2535 Rochester Road.
“I think people like looking at other decorations, and it's nice because it gets you in the spirit,” said Kathleen Perry, a Cranberry Women's Club member. “A lot of the houses, the neighbors also already have their outdoor decorations out, too. So not only do you see the house, you're going to, but you'll see other nice decorations.”
Perry said the group has hosted the house tour for nearly 15 years and typically the women's club sells out of the 200 tickets available. However the club had to cancel the tour last year due to a lack of participating homeowners.
The members are reviving the event this year because it was one of the club's biggest annual fundraisers. Proceeds will go toward the nonprofit and community groups that the club votes on each year, Perry said.
In past years, the women's club has given to Gleaners Community Food Bank, the Cranberry Public Library and Habitat for Humanity.
Angela Cardillo's townhome in Park Place will be one of the homes featured on the tour. Cardillo, a member of the Women's Club, said this is the first time she's been on the Cranberry house tour, but she loves to decorate.
She will show off her Italian heritage with her home décor and collection of Fontanini Nativity figurines on the tour. Fontanini is a leading manufacturer of Christmas Nativity figurines in Italy.
Cardillo said her mother started the Fontanini collection for her when she moved out, and it has grown since then.
She picks up pieces when she travels to Italy, or acquires them online and in stores where the collection is sold. She has about 20 pieces so far.
In addition to the usual Nativity scene characters, the Fontanini collection includes villagers such as the weaver, the wine maker, knife sharpener, trading post owner and musicians.
Cardillo's favorite is Jareth, the drummer boy. The 5-inch figures are made of resin and are hand painted in Italy.
“They're really unique,” she said. “They're beautifully painted.”
In addition to the Nativity, her Italian heritage comes through throughout the living areas in her home, such as the decorative wall she made from wine corks.
Jodi Cancilla's home will be on the tour for a second year. She has themed Christmas trees she decorates each year. One tree pays homage to her battle with breast cancer; she is cancer free now.
“We do each room differently,” she said.
There is also a Darth Vader-themed tree and an animal-print-themed tree. Cancilla said she loves the house tour because it lets people get different ideas for decorating for the holidays and styling their homes for the rest of the year.
“I love looking around and getting ideas for different decorations and what to do,” she said. “I just love it. If I wasn't in the house tour, I'd go on the house tour.”
WHAT:Cranberry Women's Club Christmas House TourWHEN: 4 to 8 p.m. SundayWHERE: Five homes in Cranberry TownshipINFO: Tickets are advance sale only. Tickets can be bought by calling Kathleen at 724-538-3622 or Gale at 724-772-2924.
