The annual Christmas House at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities in Southern Pines will welcome the public Nov. 30 through Dec. 3, for the third decade.

This historic Georgian-style mansion, at 555 E. Connecticut Ave., is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed in its present form in 1922 by nationally renowned architect Aymar Embury II for writer and socialite James Boyd and his new wife, Katharine Lamont, whose father was President Grover Cleveland's secretary of war.

The former Boyd family home is operated now as a nonprofit, 501c(3) tax-exempt organization, relying on fundraisers such as Christmas House, memberships and donations from the community for more than 30 years.

All of the home's 23 rooms will be decorated for Christmas by garden clubs and designers. The public is invited in to view it and to experience special holiday events this Christmas, as they have for season's past.

This year's Christmas House theme is "The Gift of Family and Friends."

Festivities start with a gala preview party Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. Live music by Fred Brush with Lynn Nelson will be provided for the gala, with drinks and refreshments, and dancing on tap.

Tickets are $60 per person for the gala preview party.

From Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 1-3, tours of the house begin at 10 a.m. and run until 4 p.m. daily, with tickets $10 if purchased in advance, $15 at the door.

On Saturday, active duty military will be admitted to the house tour for $5 each, as long as they are either in uniform or show identification.

On Thursday, a Boyd tradition of Carols at Weymouth continues with accomplished musicians performing and refreshments in front of a crackling fire. Carols at Weymouth is free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

Friday night is a candlelight tour of Weymouth with wine and cheese. Tickets are $25 per person.

On Saturday will be a special children's tour and visit with Santa from 8:30 to 10 a.m., Dec. 3. Children are admitted for $3 each. Those under 3 are admitted free.

The beauty and spirit of this event has made Christmas House the Women of Weymouth's biggest annual fundraiser among many others and has attracted visitors from all over the state and other parts of the country.

Tickets for the various Christmas House events are now available.

For information, call (910) 692-6261, visit www.weymouthcenter.org, or email weymouthcenter@pinehurst.net.