Joyce Webster and her family had their Christmas decorations up before Thanksgiving this year, but they don’t mind. They are thrilled to be part of the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society’s Holiday House Walk, and the early decorating was needed for photographs promoting the event. The biggest annual fundraiser for the organization, this is 26th Holiday House Walk. But it is the first to feature the Webster home. The house was built in 1914, but has been home to Joyce, husband Brian and their three children — ages 16, 12 and 8 — for just one year. “We’ve been in Oak Park about 11 years. We were in the market for a larger home that was more centrally located,” said Webster, who jumped at the chance to be included in the walk. “It fit the bill, yes. It had been lovingly cared for by the last folks who lived here. They had remodeled the entire kitchen and so that was a big appeal to us,” she said. New homeowners bring new ideas. Being in the historic district, exterior changes were not on the radar. Inside was a different story “We only changed things you couldn’t see from the street. … We did a revamp and refresh of the first floor, which folks will be able to see on the walk,” she said. Dark paint and wood in the home has been “freshened up for modern living to bring more light into the space.” More light? With 88 windows in the three-story house, there’s plenty of light streaming in. This 1927 Mediterranean style home on the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society Holiday House Walk features a 15-foot holiday tree in the atrium as well as a 12-foot tree that showcases special ornaments from the family’s travels. (Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society) You can see the Webster home and five others on the Holiday House Walk Dec. 6 and 7. Tickets are on sale at https://oprfiws.org/holiday-housewalk for $70 in advance and $75 the days of. A $250 Fast Pass allows the ticket bearer to go to the front of the line at each house. The Webster home, located near Oak Park and River Forest High School, is one of four houses on the tour in Oak Park. The other two are in River Forest. Three houses – including the Webster’s – are within walking distance of each other, event chair Cam Niederman said. Each year, five or six different houses are featured. The search for new houses begins shortly after the current year’s tour, she said. “We were only going to do five (houses) this year. But, for the first time, we had two people come to us asking if their houses could be included. They went on the walk last year and loved it,” Niederman said. The fundraiser includes a holiday market featuring works of 22 vendors from 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7. The market will be at the IWS Children’s Clinic, 28 Madison Street, Oak Park. The goal is to raise $150,000 for the Infant Welfare Society, said Niederman who even as event chair still enjoys touring the houses, especially those that really bring out “owners’ personality and style.” “Some, every inch is covered. Others have decorative greens. All of them do beautiful trees with holiday tradition ornaments. It really is a unique thing to see,” Niederman said. “I’d come home with so many ideas. That’s exactly what we want people to do, come away with wonderful ideas for their own home.” There’s a definite community feel with more than 80 volunteers who work as docents in the six houses and staff the holiday market. This 1915 home featured on Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society’s Holiday House Walk features seasonal decorations as well as a collection of global artifacts from the family’s many travels. (Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society) The house walk kicks off the holiday season for many. “We have a lot of ladies’ groups that go through. They meet for appetizers, whatever, and then go on the house walk. It’s a tradition for a lot of people and really does bring the community together,” Niederman said. Visitors to the Webster home will walk in through the side entrance and find the main hallway “all decorated with the greenery, wreaths and lighting.” “To the left is the living room that runs the width of the house. We’ll have our traditional Christmas tree in the living room. It’s sort of formal, the one I don’t let the kids touch,” Webster said. “The mantle will be decorated. Off the living room, we converted an old porch into what we call our cocktail lounge. It’s a swanky, moody, kind of adults-only space that will be decorated as well.” A second tree in the kitchen will have “trinkets from our travels, the kids’ ornaments and kitschy stuff.” While volunteers are on hand at each house to answer questions and guide visitors, the owners don’t stick around. “But I am going to sneak through all my neighbors’ houses,” Webster said, hoping to get decorating ideas. A bonus this year finds Oak Park resident and author Mary DiSomma signing copies of her new book, “My Life in Pies: Sweet and Savory Recipes Inspired by Family and Friends,” from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at the market. On Dec. 7, DiSomma will share her baking journey with a special presentation called “A Taste of the Holidays,” complete with an allspice cookie, empanada and an espresso peppermint mocktini. Tickets to that program are $30 each. Only 16 tickets are sold for each session at 10 and 11:15 a.m. “This is a big event in Oak Park and River Forest. People love it,” Webster added. “We’re happy to support (Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society) and the work that they do.” The organization dates back to 1916. The core goal is to provide medical, dental and behavioral services for underserved infants, children and young adults up to age 21. In Fiscal Year 2024, more than 8,000 health care visits to nearly 3,000 patients were made possible by the organization. Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.