The Home Town stars, Erin and Ben Napier, are choosing heartwarming family traditions over lavish vacations this Christmas. The couple, whose show returns for its eighth season on December 29th, shared their holiday plans and the values that keep them grounded with PEOPLE magazine.
Ben, 41, detailed their cherished traditions, which include attending a candlelight service on Christmas Eve and enjoying a homemade Christmas fettuccine Alfredo dinner. He considers the latter his “favorite tradition.” The family also plans a road trip to Ben’s parents’ house, opting for a unique lodging arrangement.
“We have gotten really into taking our camper to my parents’ house and setting up [outside],” Ben explained. Erin added, “When everybody’s there, it’s just so crowded,” highlighting the reason for their unconventional accommodation.
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While some celebrities opt for luxurious resorts during the holidays, the Napiers prefer a more down-to-earth approach.
“We’ve gotten to do some pretty awesome trips. In the spring, we were working in Florida [for the upcoming third season of their spinoff, Home Town Takeover],” Ben shared. However, he emphasized that a simple camper trip “a few hours down the road” is their ideal getaway. Erin jokingly added, “We can’t outmaneuver our raising,” explaining that their humble upbringing influences their choices. “Our parents are honest and simple people who would be ashamed if we went to Cabo for Christmas.”
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The family of four remains rooted in their hometown of Laurel, Mississippi, the setting for their popular home renovation show. Erin promises “a lot of firsts” in the first six episodes of the new season, including revisiting a previously renovated home to accommodate a growing family. She also hinted at a particularly moving episode: “I think the people who love gardening, are going to love the premiere. The people who love a story about community are going to love the historic house that was a landmark in downtown Laurel, and we converted it to a school for underserved children.” She recommends viewers “have a box of tissues nearby” for this heartwarming story.
The new season of Home Town premieres December 29th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV.
