Sights, sounds and smells of Christmas spread across much of Woodland as Dickens in the Valley returned for its second decade.

The annual event featured six homes this year, each decorated in Christmas finery, supplemented by music and scents of cinnamon and cider.

The 2024 fundraiser for Friends of Meals on Wheels sold about 500 tickets, the money of which will fund in part Elderly Nutrition Program and Meals on Wheels. Past events have raised as much as $60,000.

Those opening their homes for the season were Mark Koplin and Sharon Galart-Koplin on West Miramonte Drive, Chris Campbell on Pendegast Street, Matt and Sherry Morley on Canvas Back Street, Lee Howell and Sandy Briggs-Howell on Cross Street and Gary and Nancy Marton Fairview Drive.

Also featured was the Lincoln Building on Lincoln Avenue, which serves primarily as office space for Jeff Morgan. Once the Woodland Senior Center, the building was purchased by Morgan in 2008, who remodeled it to capture its open space and history.

Indeed, the building served as the hospitality area for the tour with nearly a dozen Christmas trees of green, gold and silver scattered throughout the main hall and eating areas.At the Koplin residence, displays of birch trees lit in white lights were featured along with three 7-foot-tall trees to provide a “forest for deer, while fresh cypress garland welcomed visitors. Every room was on display with the “Salon” featuring an heirloom piano. In the living room, there were wooden and metal trees on the entry table with an all-white stylish tree featuring pearls and birds.

At the Campbell residence on Pendegast, the 1913 Germanic Tudor home featured wreaths and garland in each room. A flocked Christmas tree was also featured with delicate hand-blown ornaments. And there were also nutcrackers galore in the East Parlor, with as many as 40 on display.

The Martin residence on Fairview Drive featured more garland with Santa Claus featured in every room, including the Butler’s Pantry as well as the laundry room.

Brightly lit Christmas lanterns greeted visitors at the Howell residence on Cross Street. Garland stretched over the front door, decorated with gold angels that denoted a Victorian theme. A 10-foot-tall tree was also displayed in the front parlor window and decorated with handmade ornaments.

On Canvas Back Street, the Morleys decorated a live tree with cherished family ornaments, some handmade by their children and decorated together each year. The dining room, meanwhile was decorated out with lush garland and set for Christmas dinner, which is attended by up to 20 people each year. There was even a “candy tree” in the corner of the kitchen.

Sponsors this year included Wehner Accounting and Tax, Fuentes Landscape, The Daily Democrat, Todd A. Montgomery, CPA, We Buy Yolo Brian Lin DDS, the Consumers Guide, Corner Drug Co, the California Assisted Living and Dementia Care, Lawson Property Management, Real Estate & Home Loans, The Grove Post Acute, Van Beurden Insurance Services, as well as American Pacific Reverse Mortgage Group, Guy and Debbie Pedroia, James and Maxine Polkinghorne, Tom and Meg Stallard, Vic and Debbie Singh, WSR Insurance Services and Valley Roofing.