The next time you host for the holidays, imagine more than a thousand people streaming through the front door. But it’s OK — a professional designer has decked your halls; and never mind the small talk because trained volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and highlight your home’s finer points. You might not even need to attend at all.

The library of Janice LeBel’s home is toured on the second day of the 46th annual Christmas in Salem home tour on Dec. 7, 2025. – Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

The butler’s pantry in Janice LeBel’s Salem home. – Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff

The format may sound unusual, but it’s how many of the area’s annual holiday house tours go. In communities around the Commonwealth, some residents are opening their homes to the public, who attend the ticketed

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