How Hanson Builders Brings Dream Homes to Life: A Parade of Homes℠ Feature

What is the “Parade of Homes℠”?

What if touring a home wasn’t just about square footage, but about imagining your future? That is the heart of Parade of Homes℠, an event that turns neighborhoods into open doors and inspiration into possibility.

Every year in Minnesota, curious design lovers and serious homebuyers set aside weekends to wander through dozens of newly built or remodeled homes to appreciate spaces most people only see from the outside. This is the Parade of Homes℠: a bi-annual, self-guided home tour showcasing the latest in home design, craftsmanship, trends, and innovations. Since 1948, it has served as the place where builders and remodelers open their doors, invite neighbors in, and let real people explore houses firsthand. What began as a small collaborative showcase in Edina has blossomed into the largest and longest-running home tour in the nation, created and presented by Housing First Minnesota℠. The Parade of Homes℠ gives homebuyers a place to dream… in real life.

Why the Parade of Homes℠ Is Important

For homebuyers, this offers the opportunity to see a wide variety of houses in person. Walking through layouts, feeling finishes, and talking to builders gives context that photos and listings never can. It’s a live market research experience that helps people understand price ranges, design ideas, and how modern homes function. When you visit the Parade of Homes℠ this spring, ask the builders you meet about their craft, process, and inspirations. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn, especially if you’re considering buying a new home anytime in the future.

For designers, builders, and remodelers, the Parade of Homes℠ is a platform to showcase quality and creativity, connect with potential clients, and build local confidence. It’s one of the most powerful ways to elevate a builder’s brand and create community connection.

For the community, beyond trade and commerce, the Parade of Homes℠ has a tradition of bringing people together. Families make memories, neighbors plan outings, and there’s always inspiration – whether someone is actively searching for a home or simply loves architecture and design.

Recognizing Excellence

The Parade of Homes℠ is also the setting for the Reggie Award℠ contest, which honors homes by recognizing excellence in design, craftsmanship, floor planning, energy efficiency, challenges overcome, and community engagement. Hanson Builders won five Reggie Awards℠ in 2025, demonstrating their leadership in the industry.

The Reggie Award℠ is, in part, based on a home’s Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index, used by Minnesota’s Green Path℠ to measure energy efficiency. Hanson Builders is proud to be a designated Green Path Builder, submitting homes annually for rigorous energy efficiency and green building testing.

Hanson Builders at the Parade of Homes℠

When you explore Parade of Homes℠, you’re not just walking through houses – you are walking through community heritage and craftsmanship. For Hanson Builders, the Parade of Homes℠ is a stage to showcase how architecture, design, and detail meet. They design and build their homes to be livable – to make sense for modern families – and there is no better opportunity to demonstrate this than the Parade of Homes℠.

With deep, multi-generational roots in Minnesota, Hanson Builders is woven into the state’s building community and history where time-honored craftsmanship meets forward-thinking design. The architects, designers, builders, and other professionals on the Hanson Builders team are dedicated to delivering an outstanding product and experience. For Hanson and many local builders, this is an opportunity to live their craft, tell their story, and connect with the people who might one day live in the homes they design and build.

See You in March

Whether you are dreaming, planning, designing, or building, the Parade of Homes℠ remains a ritual that matters. This event is shaping how Minnesotans experience homeownership and housing innovation. Hanson’s participation reflects both a legacy in the region’s building culture and a commitment to community-oriented design.

Don’t miss this spring’s event, happening March 13 – April 12, 2026. And stay tuned as we prepare to welcome you in at the Parade of Homes℠!