NATCHEZ — A handful of Natchez residents opened their doors in support of opening books for the Library Tour of Homes Sunday afternoon.

The yearly fundraiser for the Armstrong Library brought out good crowds this year, said Fred Emrick, owner of The Gardens.

“This is the first time we’ve been on the library tour,” he said. “They asked us, and we said sure. So, we kind of spruced it up.”

Spruce, along with pine and ribbons decorated the house in festive Christmas cheer.

Natchez resident Rosilyn Adams and her friend Sarah Overby wandered through the house.

“For a native Natchezian who drives past these homes every day, to be given the opportunity to go in, it’s just a real coup,” Adams said.

Along with supporting the library, it was fun to see how others decorated, Overby said.

“It’s great to see homes that aren’t open otherwise, other times of year,” she said.

Natchez residents Irvin and Linda Garrett also took the tour.

“We did the tour last year, and it was so much fun we came back,” Linda Garrett said. “It’s for a good cause, and it puts you in the Christmas spirit.”

It was also nice to have a more personal interaction with the homeowners, Irvin Garrett said.

“With Pilgrimage, it’s so much more crowded,” he said.

The tour is just as much fun for volunteers, said Micki Hartley, who has helped with the tour in the past few years.

“It’s a lot of fun to see people come through at Christmastime,” Hartley said. “It’s just a wonderful cause, and it’s always a lot of fun to be in such a beautiful setting at Christmas. It gives you the holiday spirit. And it makes you want to go home and decorate your house, too.”