Several home owners and businesses will open their doors thisweekend to welcome visitors during the annual Tour of Homes.

The event is Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tickets areavailable at the chamber of commerce office and Bank ofBrookhaven.

Chairwoman Rita Rich said this year’s theme, “Country Estatesand City Elegance,” reflects and continues a tradition of offeringa variety of home styles.

“We always have a variety: old, new and in-between, and avariety of architecture,” Rich said.

Homes and businesses on this year’s tour include:

* St. Charles – Mike and Glenda Smith’s home on Highway 84west.

* Ross Family Chateau – the home of Ronny and Elizabeth Ross onCornerstone Lane in Oakhill Estates.

* Four Cedars Country Inn Bed and Breakfast – owned by Randalland Glenda Smith on Zetus Road.

* Shanna Callender’s eclectic downtown loft apartment on WestCherokee Street.

* Jason McDonald’s loft apartment, also on West CherokeeStreet.

* Deer Run – the home of Warren Stamps on River Road.

* Chinquapin Spring Farm – the home of Robert and ShirleyStamps, also on River Road.

* Federal Land Bank on South Whitworth Avenue.

* Bank of Brookhaven on Brookway Boulevard.

Rich praised the hard work that homeowners have been doing ingetting their homes ready for the tour.

“I can’t say ‘thanks’ enough for what you’ve done,” Rich toldhomeowners during a meeting earlier this week. “We reallyappreciate it.”

A shuttle service for visitors will be available at the Bank ofBrookhaven, Rich said. However, she said visitors are still free totravel to homes at their own pace.

“If they know the area, they may want to go on their own,” Richsaid.

In addition to the homes, Rich said there are other activitiesto occupy visitors during their time in Brookhaven.

On Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., the Lincoln County MasterGardeners and the Lincoln County Cooperative Extension Service willsponsor the Spring Gardening Extravaganza in the downtown RailroadPark. It will feature demonstrations on gardening activities andseminars from horticulture experts.

Also Saturday morning, local historian Tom Moak will lead awalking tour of Brookhaven’s Victorian District. The tour will befrom 10 a.m. until noon, Rich said.

The Brookhaven Arts Council will have an auction featuring sixadult and six children-sized rockers that have been decorated byvarious artists. The rockers will be on display in the window ofProgressive Men’s Shop.

“They can come in and place a silent auction bid,” Richsaid.

Brookhaven Little Theatre will premier the play “More Than Life”at the Haven on West Cherokee Street.

The play, written and directed by Brookhaven’s own CherylSproles, opened Thursday night and future performances are Fridayand Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

“It’s a good time to have out of town guests,” Rich said aboutTour of Homes weekend.

Chandler Russ, chamber of commerce executive vice-president,said it is not limited to just out of town visitors.

“It’s a time to showcase our community,” Russ said. “It putsBrookhaven in a positive and strong light to our out of town guestsas well as local people who take time to tour the homes.”