If there’s one thing Karen Watkins has learned about the Parade of Homes tour, it’s that many of the entries leave a lasting impression on the visitors who walk through their doors. And those impressions last longer than you might think.
Watkins, executive officer of the Building Industry Association of Lancaster County, once took a call from someone asking about a mirror built into the bathroom cabinetry of a Parade home they had visited two years earlier. Those types of calls aren’t all that unusual, she says.
“There are people that say, ‘I can’t afford an $800,000 home,’ but you might love a backsplash in a tiny kitchen in a duplex and you come away with the idea,” Watkins says. “It isn’t always the grandest thing that catches people. There are little things people see in Parade homes all the time.”
When the 2024 Parade of Homes kicks off on June 15, it will feature 22 diverse entries from 13 builders in Lancaster and Lebanon counties, ranging in price from $499,999 to over $1.3 million. All will have plenty to see — from custom builds to remodels, one-story to three-story living, and traditional to contemporary styles.
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Here’s what you need to know about this year’s event:
When is it?
For longtime Parade-goers, the biggest change will be the elimination of Monday and Tuesday hours. This year’s tour will run June 15-16 and June 19-23. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. on weekends and 5 to 8 p.m. on weekdays.
“We found that it’s been hard on the builders to staff the homes for nine days in a row,” Watkins says.
Foot traffic has been good and consistent for the Parade over the last few years, the BIA reports, but Mondays and Tuesdays are typically the slowest days.
How do I find the homes?
Visitors can search the app store for “BIA Parade of Homes” and download a free app where they can find details on all the homes as well as directions and customizable routes.
Or visit , which offers a virtual version of the Parade of Homes where visitors can take a 3D, room-by-room tour of each entry and view a map to plan in-person visits. Three of this year’s entries are only available for virtual viewing. You’ll also find a complete list of entries on pages 4 and 5.
Are the homes all new?
No. Since 2018, the Parade has also showcased remodeled entries on the tour. This year will feature two: A stone farmhouse renovated by Cornerstone Woodworks and a home in School Lane Hills with an updated first floor by TK Building & Design. The farmhouse is a virtual-only entry.
“I think that is only going to grow,” Watkins says of the remodeling entries, “especially given the current remodeling market in Lancaster County. Rising interest rates and a lack of developable land are also prompting homeowners to stay put and update their existing homes. “We have people doing small projects and big projects. … Our remodelers are very busy.”
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What trends will I see?
You won’t find these trends in all Parade homes, but here are some things to watch for on this year’s tour:
— Ceilings: From coffered ceilings to tray ceilings to decorative beams, this year’s entries offer a reason to look up.
— Fireplaces: You’ll see a wide variety, from Landmark’s two-story, floor-to-ceiling version with unique wood surround to a 100-inch linear electric fireplace by Alden Homes to a Merv Miller Builder custom home with a separate hearth room in the owner’s suite.
— Sculleries: You’ll find these secondary “prep” kitchens in entries by Pine Hill Building and EGStoltzfus.
— Smaller footprints: While some Parade homes are know for their grand size, others like Alden Homes traditionally showcase living large in less square footage. This year, Keystone Custom Homes offers a Charleston Farmhouse model in its Devon Creek community in Lancaster. At 1,863 square feet, the three-story home was built to accommodate a smaller lot.
While not considered “affordable housing,” it still makes homeownership more achievable, says marketing manager Rachel Peters, and contributes to solving the housing shortage problem.
Ryan Brubaker, director of architecture and innovation for Keystone, says in an email that the home was designed with a millennial buyer in mind. He describes the home as “smaller, simpler and efficient,” while still offering spacious open-concept living.
— Accent walls: You’ll find them in several homes by Garman Builders. “We are seeing both wallpaper and painted accent walls as a current design trend,” Samantha Fletcher, design studio manager for Garman, writes in an email. “It is an easy, but impactful, way to create interest in a room.”
Fletcher notes wainscoting and trim accent walls are also trending.
— Other trends: Additional features to look out for in this year’s Parade are smart home opportunities, black grid-less windows, hidden storage solutions, and lockers and benches in foyers and entryways.
How does Parade judging work?
Parade entries are placed in divisions based on price and type of home. Best of show awards are given in each division, along with best kitchen, bath, exterior, interior design, decorating and landscaping.
Teams of judges from building associations in neighboring counties are given a driver, a route and criteria for judging in each category. From the best-of-show winners in each division, a new team of judges determines the winners of the prestigious Fulton Award. All winners will be announced at a gala on June 14.
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Is there a cost?
No. The Parade of Homes is free and open to the public.
What else should I know?
If this year’s Parade of Homes tour inspires you to upgrade your own digs, you can enter a raffle to do just that. The BIA is again holding the Build Your Dream Raffle, which made its debut last year. Tickets are $50 and offer the chance to win a prize of $25,000 toward a renovation or a new build completed by a BIA member. The winner also can opt for a $12,500 cash prize instead.
The BIA dropped ticket prices this year from $150 to $50. Watkins notes the BIA must sell 1,500 tickets to offer the full prize. If fewer tickets are sold, the winner will receive 50% of the net proceeds, up to $12,500.
Although the BIA had hoped to offer a $75,000 prize last year, Watkins says the price point for tickets was likely too high. They did not sell the minimum required so the winner collected 50% of the proceeds, which came to over $10,000, she says.
To purchase raffle tickets, download a request form at , email or call 717-569-2674. Tickets must be purchased with cash or check.
Raffle tickets may also be available at select Parade homes. Sales will take place up until the drawing on July 15.
Where do the proceeds go?
Raffle proceeds will benefit the BIA and its workforce development initiative, including its October educational event, Building Futures: Construction Career Day.
Last year’s event drew over 400 Lancaster County high school and college students, who attended demonstrations and panel discussions and visited booths manned by BIA member companies to learn about careers from HVAC to carpentry.
“We hear all the time that we have an aging workforce, there aren’t enough plumbers and electricians, we can’t hire enough skilled people,” Watkins says. “Even if a company isn’t hiring, they still go (to career day) to talk about well-paying professional jobs in the industry.”