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🌾 What is the Parade of Homes?

🌾 What is the Parade of Homes?

Have you ever been?

Landon Huslig
April 23, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Wichita!

Today is National Take a Chance Day. So if you’ve been on the border about that thing, here’s your sign.

Let's get to it!

- Landon Huslig

p.s. If this type of deep dive isn’t your thing, scroll to the bottom and you could win $500.

Together with HeritageFest

All aboard for Andover’s newest spring event – HeritageFest!

Join us as we step back in time to celebrate our city’s roots with themed food, old-time photos, kids’ activities, and an unforgettable trip into the past. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 17, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at The Heritage (located off Yorktown Road and Kellogg - see the awesome picture above).

Did you know that a train robbery took place in Andover back in 1898?

In a dramatic turn of events, a depot agent ran to a nearby church for help - right in the middle of an ice cream social!

Andover’s history is full of fascinating stories, and we can’t wait to bring them to life at HeritageFest!

Parade of Homes

Through the years growing up in the Wichita area, I always heard of the Parade of Homes, but I don’t think I ever really knew what that meant or what it was.

With the 2025 Parade of Homes around the corner, I wanted to learn more about what it was and maybe learn a thing or two that I could pass along to you.

Have you ever been to Parade of Homes?

What is the Parade of Homes?

So first things first, what is it?

Picture this:

The best homebuilders in Wichita roll out the red carpet, but instead of celebrities, the stars are stunning new homes.

That's the Parade of Homes: a self-guided tour showcasing the area's finest new construction, design trends, and architectural innovation.

Organized by the Wichita Area Builders Association (WABA), this free event invites the public to explore dozens of model homes spread across Wichita and surrounding communities. Whether you're actively house hunting, gathering inspiration for your dream remodel, or maybe just want to see how the other side lives, the Parade is for you.

Wichita’s Parade of Homes offers something for everyone including cozy starter homes, luxurious custom builds, and everything in between. One of the best parts is that it is completely free and open to the public.

Did I mention it’s free?

Where did it come from?

I personally think the idea is really cool, but how did it come to be? Where did this idea come from?

Quick history lesson:

The concept of the Parade of Homes dates all the way back to 1948, when it was first recorded in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The first trademarked one happened in Salt Lake City Utah in 1946 though.

Regardless, in the post-World War II era, America was booming with soldiers returned home, families were growing, and the dream of homeownership was stronger than ever.

Builders needed a way to show off new styles, floor plans, and neighborhoods to a housing-hungry public. Thus, the "Parade" was born: a coordinated tour of move-in ready homes that anyone could browse at their leisure.

The idea spread like wildfire across the country, and Wichita jumped in soon after (the exact date it came to Wichita is not known, or I failed at googling it). It does go at least back to 1955 in Wichita though:

Wichita Eagle - September 18, 1955

Here in Wichita, the Parade is now a 2x per year tradition, hitting both the spring and fall times.

What to Expect:

If you’ve never been, no biggie. Don’t feel intimidated. Here is a quick guide of what to expect:

Incredible Variety: Tour over 100 (144 actually) new homes from Wichita’s top builders, ranging from $200,000 starter homes to million-dollar dream houses. Whether you prefer modern farmhouse, sleek contemporary, or timeless traditional styles, there's a house (or ten) that will catch your eye.
Neighborhood Tours: It's not just about individual homes you'll get a feel for different neighborhoods across the metro area. New communities like Castaway, Auburn Lakes, and Firefly are among many showcased developments.
Trends and Innovations: Builders use the Parade as a platform to debut the latest and greatest in design trends. Think energy-efficient technologies, smart home features, open floor plans, spa bathrooms, and jaw-dropping kitchens.
Inspiration Galore: Even if you're not buying right now, it's the perfect place to gather ideas for your current home from landscaping tips to interior design inspiration.
Builder Spotlights: The Parade also highlights Wichita's best builders, from boutique custom builders to large companies (more on this below).

Homes are judged by an independent panel during the Parade, with awards given for Best Curb Appeal, Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, and more. So, when you visit a winning home, you're stepping into an award-winning piece of art! You can see the list of winners from Fall 2024 here.

You can view homes by browsing the official Parade of Homes guidebook (available online or at participating locations) or use the handy-dandy interactive map on the WABA website.

Local Builders

This is an incredible showcase of the amazing building talent in Wichita.

I would try to list them all out, but there are a lot, so you can find a whole list here.

Instead, I’ll just list a few you might recognize like Craig Sharp Homes, Klausmeyer Construction, Nies, Paul Gray Homes.

If you want to see their full list of individual homes, check them out here.

How to Get Involved

Win a Gift Card: I won’t bury the lead. You can win a $500 gift card and all you have to do is go enter to win here. If you calculate your hourly rate based off winning $500 for 30 seconds of work, it’s pretty ridiculous.

Attend the Parade: The easiest way to dive in is to grab a guidebook or map and start exploring! Homes are typically open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 6pm during the Parade weekends. No RSVP or ticket required — just show up and enjoy.

The dates are April 26-27, May 3-4, and May 10-11. Surely one of those weekends works, right?

Connect with Builders: If you’re thinking about building, remodeling, or buying a new home, the Parade is the perfect low-pressure way to meet builders, realtors, designers, and mortgage pros. Some builders even offer Parade specials and incentives if you decide to make an offer.

Get Social: Share your favorite homes and ideas on social media using the #WichitaParadeOfHomes hashtag. Builders love to see what visitors think, and you might inspire someone else to check out the Parade!

We worked with Parade of Homes to bring you details to help you make the best of this weekend!

What do you want to see us go deep on in a future deep dive?

Let us know!