The Home Builders Association of Northwest Louisiana’s annual Parade of Homes is a fun way to see the latest trends in home design and product innovations – not to mention an up-close look at beautiful area homes!

Start planning your perfect parade route, because the parade will take place on the weekends of June 22-23 and 29- 30, and the homes will be open for selfguided tours from 1-6 p.m. daily. The two-weekend event gives attendees the opportunity to view custom built and speculative homes in Caddo, Bossier and DeSoto parishes.

Wesley Thomas, Home Builders Association of Northwest Louisiana president and owner at Wesley Thomas Inc., says the tour is a great way for the entire industry to showcase their work to the community and market their businesses. “[The parade] is a great opportunity for the client or the person attending the Parade of Homes – the average homeowner. I feel like it stimulates them to want to push forward on that kitchen remodel, or find a paint color, or choose a builder or architect for a renovation or a building project ... there is an entire industry on display,” he said.

This year’s tour includes Shreveport, with homes in the Provenance subdivision, as well as Southern Trace, Esplanade, Oakwood Trace, New Castle Pines, Lucien Field Estates, Hidden Acres and Lake Village Commons at Spring Lake. The homes in Stonewall are in Cathey Acres, Griffin Estates and Plantation Hills. The home in Frierson is located in Pierre Point Estates. The Bossier City homes featured on the tour are in the Provident Oaks subdivision, as well as homes in Beauclaire, Legacy – Waterford Bend, The Preserve – Estates, and Willow Heights. Benton homes are located in Kingston Plantation, Lost River Estates and Bridgewater Bay. Faith Plantation is the location of the two Princeton homes, and the Haughton home is in Tuscany Villas/Crossing.

“We have 34 homes on the parade this year that go from Benton to Stonewall,” said Home Builders Association of Northwest Louisiana Executive Director Dixey Robertson. “This is a good opportunity to look if you plan to make improvements to your present home or think you want to build some day. Several of the houses are specs, so they are for sale. We have every price point represented from entry level homes to custom dream homes.”

Thomas says the amount of custom homes on this year’s parade are going to make the event special. “All the new styles and trends – they’re all there. You’re going to see everything. To be able to see and touch the finishes and be able to meet the builders and ask questions,” he said. “Every house is so unique and different, and I think that’s what you’re going to see at the Parade of Homes.”

Several furniture companies are also participating this year, Thomas said, by staging homes with furniture and accessories.

Robertson said there will be three dream homes on this year’s Parade. These will include the Ryan Smith Builders home in Esplanade, and the Wesley Thomas Inc. and Terry W. Elston Builder homes in Southern Trace. The Elston home is built for homeowners Tannie and Jennifer Frierson. Tannie and Elston have had a friendship since high school, so choosing him to build their home was an easy decision. Years of thought, time and effort were put into the home.

“Jennifer loves modern and clean lines, but Tannie also loves the rustic. They have blended the different styles seamlessly with the guidance of architect Ben Patterson and designer Jamey Briggs [Briggs & Co.],” said The Cottage owner Mary Ann Elston. (The Kitchen & Bath Cottage has simplified its name to The Cottage to encompass all of the products and services offered.)

Elston says Jennifer’s bathroom and master closet will wow attendees. The large space features a steam shower and tub, full-length tri-fold mirrored cabinet doors for multiple views when dressing. The space also has a small bar that Jennifer’s friend Briggs added as a surprise for her.

Elston says another must-see at the home is large putting green installed by Twin Oaks Nursery. Frierson says the area features two putting greens with a total of nine holes and a gravel walking path around them. The pool designed by Steve Evans is also unique, with several different zones offering something for everyone, including a diving board, a place to play basketball or hook up a volleyball net, and a tanning ledge.

“All the vendors, latest products and innovations – especially appliances and finishes – will be represented in the houses,” said Robertson. “Most of the builders will be in their houses [on parade days] so attendees have the opportunity to meet them and see who they click with if they are thinking about building a custom home.”

“I think we have around 3,000 people attend each year. It’s a big deal for us – every year we meet new clients and new people, and it’s something we look forward to,” said Thomas. “I’m happy to be part of an association that has created this for us to be able to have as a community.”

This year, the Home Builders Association and the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier have teamed up for a fundraiser during the parade. Junior League volunteers will be acting as hostesses in select homes and selling tickets for a grand prize “Win a Kitchen” remodel worth $40,000; tickets are $50 each. Secondary prizes include a $1,000 Lee Michaels gift certificate, a $1,000 television and a $500 Visa gift card. Just look for a Junior League member in a red apron to make a purchase.

Parade tickets may be purchased at any home during the tour, at area Brookshire’s stores, or at the Home Builders Association of Northwest Louisiana office located at 2038 East 70th Street for $10 each. Children younger than 3 years old get in free. Tickets grant entrance to every home each day of the tour. A complete list of the homes and a map will be available at https://www.nwlahba.org/parade-of-homes on June 19.