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St. Mary of the Hills to Host Its 58th Annual Tour of Homes Fundraiser Friday

Set-up for the 2016 Tour of Homes is underway in Blowing Rock! Photo by Ken Ketchie.
Set-up for the 2016 Tour of Homes is underway in Blowing Rock! Photo by Ken Ketchie.

By Adrienne Fouts

For a chance to see beautiful local houses while supporting a great cause, come out to the 58th annual Tour of Homes fundraiser, hosted by St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock, this Friday, July 22.

Transportation from St. Mary of the Hills to the four homes on the tour will be provided from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The houses will remain open until the tour ends at 5 p.m. Visitors are asked to use this provided transportation rather than driving to the houses themselves. Parking is available near the church in the parking deck at Wallingford Street, and on Laurel Lane next to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum. These homes are a short distance from the church and from one another in Laurel Park, so walking is also an option for visitors.

The homes on the tour are all private residences in Blowing Rock, and are a mix of both new and older houses, the oldest having been built in 1891. Visitors to the homes will view striking architecture and interior design, as well as beautiful flower arrangements in each of the rooms created by a team of women in Blowing Rock for the tour.

The Tour of Homes has been a huge success in the past, with nearly 1,500 people attending in recent years. Now in its 58th year, the event remains a fun time for locals and High Country visitors alike to view mountain homes and contribute to a good cause.

“I think people just enjoy seeing beautiful homes,” said Laura Page, tour co-chair. “And the people who work on the tour are so willing to share their time and talent to give to something bigger than themselves.”

In addition to the actual tour, there will be a number of tents on the church lawn which house the bake sale and other sales, such as the Wall of Wine.

Tents on the church lawn will feature goods for sale
Tents on the church lawn will feature goods for sale

The Tour of Homes is the church’s primary fundraising project, with the majority of proceeds donated to charitable organizations around Boone and Blowing Rock, including Habitat for Humanity, Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge and Ensemble Stage.

“This is never just a church event,” Page said. “It’s really a fun event for the whole community.”

Those interested in participating in the Tour of Homes can purchase tickets at the church office, at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, or online at www.stmaryofthehills.org. Tickets are $30, and a lunch in the parish hall is included with the ticket (a limited number of lunches are available).

For more information about the tour and St. Mary of the Hills, visit the church website or call 828-295-7323.