This week, Housing First Minnesota and the Parade of Homes hosted a Town Hall event for members to attend and hear several new and exciting components of the upcoming Fall Parade of Homes.
Speakers included Housing First Minnesota staff members James Vagle, CEO; Katie Elfstrom, VP of Public Affairs; Tom Gavaras, VP of Events & Workforce Initiatives; and featured Sarah Dulong, Parade of Homes Committee Chair.
They began by discussing the power the Parade of Homes brands hold as a leading voice for the homeownership discussion while also being a hub for consumer resources and inspiration. The Twin Cities Parade of Homes is the largest of its kind in the country and has a strong consumer base.
“There’s definitely Parade of Homes groupies. You get people who come in every fall and every spring… they have to get out and see what (the builders) are doing… it’s very important,” said Sarah Dulong.
Next, Katie Elfstrom and Tom Gavaras recapped the recent Spring Parade of Homes and the uptick in engagement and traffic on both web and social platforms. Additionally, the use of local media influencers on both the guidebook covers drew in a new audience of parade-goers.
The panel then walked through the new features being introduced on this fall’s Parade of Homes that will be available to builders in an effort to modernize the tour experience for what buyers need and want in today’s market.
Neighborhood entries
- New option for builders who enter two or more entries in the fall tour.
- Allows for an expanded touring experience.
- Multiple photos on web page, amenities listing.
“Schedule by Appointment Only” Option
- Replaces virtual-only option.
- Allows for less overall staffing needs as not all models would need to be staffed.
The panel concluded the event with a special announcement. This fall’s Parade of Homes marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the event in the Twin Cities region.
To mark the occasion Housing First Minnesota and the Parade of Homes plan to incorporate various community and industry events. A large community event will kick off the celebration and smaller community pop-up events will be incorporated throughout the tour.
The industry will mark the occasion together at the 2023 BIG Night with special awards and recognition for the impact of the Parade of Homes. This year’s BIG Night will be on Oct. 27, 2023, at Mystic Lake Center.
The discussion concluded with the panelists encouraging builders and remodelers to enter their homes into the fall tour and be a part of the celebration.
“We want this to be a strong tour just because we are going to be everywhere,” said Elfstrom. “We’re going to be talking about the legacy of the Parade of Homes, so I think it’ll be a great and exciting fall.”
If you or someone you may know has historic information or photos of the Parade of Homes over the last 75 years, please send these items to Katie Elfstrom.
The Fall Parade of Homes will run Sept. 9-Oct. 1, 2023.
You can watch the full town hall here.
