The Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Holiday Home Tour annually embodies the warmth and magic of the holiday season, as the doors to exquisitely decorated Santa Clarita Valley homes are opened to the community in the name of charity and goodwill.

For the second time in the event’s more than 30-year history, community partnerships have carried that warmth over to College of the Canyons by granting interior design students the opportunity to create a holiday design. This season, COC students Grace Trinh, Kylie Van Meter, Marlene Beltran, Julissa Hendriquez, and Joy Estrella-Boyland were selected to assist in decorating one of the four homes included in this year’s tour.

The group, led by COC interior design instructor Patrick Tremblay, was assigned the Michael and Teri Fox residence in Stevenson Ranch, and asked to incorporate the theme “Holiday Magic” into its final designs.

“College of the Canyons is proud to be a part of events like the Holiday Home Tour, because it gives back to the community, challenges our students to apply what they are learning in the classroom and further establishes COC as a desirable place to study a variety of subjects including interior design,” said Tremblay.

Involvement in this project teaches students numerous skills that will be invaluable to them in future design careers. Coordinating materials and décor, managing a budget, and time-management are just a few of the lessons learned.

The team has been working behind the scenes since August by making decoration such as wreaths, garlands and bows, to maximize funds and time. Their goal was to have as much done as possible before they began decorating inside the home on Nov. 1.

The 2018 Holiday Home Tour kicks off on Friday, Nov. 30 at The Oaks Country Club, where the annual Preview Gala will be held. Guests will enjoy a lavish evening, including a buffet dinner and the special first look tour of the homes.

The Holiday Home Tour officially opens to the public the following day, with tours running from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Admission is $30 if purchased before Nov. 28 and will be $35 at the door. Tickets can be purchased through the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation.

The Holiday Home Tour, which has traditionally focused on fundraising for women’s services, has raised upwards of a million dollars since the first event in 1981. This year, proceeds will benefit the Center for Women and Newborns in the hospital’s new Patient Tower.

For more information about the college’s interior design program, please visit the department’s web page.