The "buzz" behind the counters at the Herndon Festival from the civic volunteers working the booths was dismay that the beloved Homes Tour would not continue.

"Everybody was saying, 'We can't let that die! We have to do something'," said Diane D'Amico, a member of the town's Cultivating Community Initiative.

After discussing her ideas with other members of the CCI, D'Amico spoke to Herndon's PIO, Anne Curtis. At the same time, Councilwoman Connie Hutchinson was also concerned about the loss of the event for Herndon and wondered how the Visitor's Center might get involved to continue the traditional tour.

Hutchinson also contacted Anne Curtis, and a partnership between the Herndon Dulles Visitor's Center and the Cultivating Community Initiative was born to re-create the homes tour as the Holiday Homes Tour of Herndon.

"This will truly be a community-sponsored event because we are asking Herndon's service clubs to join in by sponsoring one house each," said Hutchinson of the effort to resurrect the tour.

According to a release, participating organizations will be asked to identify a house, make sure the house is decorated for the holidays and provide tour guides for their house.

CCI and the Visitor's Center will handle all the advertising, marketing, and overall coordination of the event.

"We already have interest from the Herndon Women's Club, the Fortnightly Club, the Rotary Club, the Optimisits, and the Friends of Laura Ratcliffe, some of whom have already committed to the effort," D'Amico said. "There is no cost to the service organizations, we just need their help."

The tour will take place on the traditional date of the first Saturday in December, the 6th this year, and the cost of the tickets will be $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour. Tickets will be sold at the Visitor's Center and by the participating service clubs. Anyone interested in volunteering to help with this effort, or to have a home considered for the tour, can contact Vice Mayor Connie Hutchinson at 703-HERNDON (437-6366).