Macon has no shortage of historic homes decorated for the holidays. For more than 30 years, the halls of Sidney Lanier Cottage have been decked for the season and the public invited for free tours.

“Every year, we host a complimentary open house showcasing the Sidney Lanier Cottage for Christmas,” said Jennifer Mayer, marketing and public relations coordinator for Historic Macon. “Admission is free to the cottage for tours and we have a large bake sale ... everything from cookies to cakes and all items in between.

“This tradition started in the 1970s, so it’s been 30 or so years since it began and it is still going strong. We think it’s the sweetest tradition in Macon. It’s a great way to get everyone into the holiday spirit.”

The proceeds from Friday’s bake sale will go to the Sidney Lanier Cottage to help with operations and maintenance.

In addition to the bake sale, this year’s event will feature several book signings.

“We will have three authors here doing book signings from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.,” Mayer said.

Authors Ed Grisamore, (“There is More than One Way to Spell Wiener”), Marie Amerson, (“Remembering Len Berg’s Restaurant”) and Sandy Page (“Pyramid of the Lost World”) will be available to autograph their books and talk about them.

“It’s a great way to get an unusual and personalized gift for someone that you love,” Mayer said.

Decorating for Christmas is a big task, and couldn’t be completed without volunteers.

“The Sidney Lanier Cottage has a crew of volunteers to help decorate the cottage from the House and Garden Club, a local garden club,” said Janis Haley, director of development for Historic Macon. “They have taken on helping the cottage throughout the year, really, but they do a wonderful job decorating for Christmas every year. They send out a crew of volunteers and when they are done, it was like a little bit of magic happened. The Christmas tree is donated by the Bon Hommes group every year and we really appreciate it. It’s always beautiful.”

Haley spoke a little bit about the decorations themselves.

“We try to stay natural within the time period for decorations. This year, we have put lights on the tree, when obviously in the 1840s there would have been candles or nothing, but we do feature some old ornaments on the tree and decorations all through the home that are reminiscent of days gone by, if you will,” Haley said.

About the open house Friday, Haley said that “it’s beautiful. We hope to lure people out all day long. We will have refreshments for anyone who wants to swing by on their lunch hour. We are just really looking forward to it.”

The Sidney Lanier Cottage will remain decorated through the Christmas season.

For more information, visit www.historicmacon.org/events/cottage-christmas.

Cottage Christmas

When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday

Where: Sidney Lanier Cottage, 935 High St.

Cost: Free admission

Phone: (478) 743-3851