Tour dates: past and upcoming
As of October 27, 2026, both 2026 Parade seasons have ended. The spring tour ran April 25–May 10; the fall tour ran September 19–October 4. The organizer’s current participation page lists April 24–May 9 for spring 2027 and September 18–October 3 for fall 2027. Recheck the organizer before making travel plans.
The 2026 Artisan Home Tour was a separate event held on three August weekends: 7–9, 14–16 and 21–23. Participation establishes that a builder took part; it does not, by itself, establish an award.
Tour with the same checklist
Choose homes that resemble your intended size, lot setting and specification level. At each stop, distinguish the house you can see from the plan you could buy. Record which features are included and which are additional-cost options.
- Ask who supervised the construction and who will supervise your project.
- Check storage, circulation, daylight and mechanical access as well as finishes.
- Ask how the site affected the foundation, drainage and driveway.
- Request the specification sheet and the basis of the advertised price.
- Photograph only where the organizer and property rules allow it.
Understand the recognition
KCHBA publishes separate Pick of the Parade and Distinctive Plan & Design results. These recognize different qualities of the entries. Our award ledger records the organization, year, award and source, with a tour identifier when available.
A listed tour price concerns that particular property. It is not a transferable construction estimate. Awards are useful questions to raise during an interview, while current licenses, references, insurance and contract terms still require their own checks.
Follow up after the tour
Shortlist the companies whose work fits your actual project, then review their directory profiles and official sites. Ask for a recent client with a similar scope and another whose warranty period is underway.
Write down the specific design choices you liked so the next meeting starts with requirements. A photo of a beautiful room communicates a preference; dimensions, materials, performance goals and a budget turn that preference into a brief.
Sources & dates
- KCHBA 2026 home tours · checked 2026-10-27
- KCHBA future Parade dates · checked 2026-10-27
- KCHBA fall 2026 winners · checked 2026-10-27
- Artisan Home Tour · checked 2026-10-27
Questions or factual corrections: editor@homebuilderbenchmark.com.