Parade of Homes wraps up Sunday in Blue Ridge, with ticket sales funding trades scholarships

The Blue Ridge Mountains Parade of Homes is open until 5 p.m. Saturday and has one more day on its schedule, Sunday, October 18. Ticket sales help pay for scholarships for local students heading into construction and the skilled trades.

According to the event listing on the Blue Ridge Mountains visitor website, eight custom home builders from the region are presenting the tour. It features professionally designed mountain homes in several locations around the Blue Ridge area.

Where the money goes

The tour benefits The Future of Our Trades Scholarship Foundation. Proceeds from tickets, sponsorships and donations go directly to scholarships for students pursuing careers in the trades and construction. The listing says the foundation has awarded more than $1 million since its first scholarship in 2019, to students in North Georgia and Southeast Tennessee.

How to go

Check-in is at SouthState Bank, 59 Orvin Lance Drive in Blue Ridge. Tickets, the list of featured homes and other event details are posted at www.blueridgeparadeofhomes.com. Check that site for Sunday's hours and ticket prices before you head out.

Also this weekend: the Harvest Sale

The Harvest Sale of Blue Ridge, a fall arts and crafts show with handcrafted items from local artisans, is at the Fannin County Schools Agriculture Facility, 43 Station Ridge Road. Entry and parking are free. It runs until 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, then returns October 24–25.

The sale is held in association with the Fannin County Young Farmers Association and the Fannin County FFA Alumni. Craftspeople interested in a booth can call Selva at (706) 632-5276.