The Homes Tour, sponsored by the Highlands Church, a United Methodist congregation, will hit a milestone with this year's tour on Aug. 29.
This year's tour marks the annual event's 25th year.
The tour featuring five houses is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
After including houses outside of Highlands Gate the past two years, the Homes Tour committee decided to come back to inside the Highlands.
The five homes on tour are:
• 8 Coldstream Circle, owned by Judy Duncan
• 84 Stonehaven Drive, owned by Paul and Linda Swaim
• 35 Rath Drive, owned by Larry and Denise Frazier
• 99 Forfar Drive, owned by David and Rhenda Field
• 96 Kincardine Drive, owned by Ron and Chris Lee.
Because parking is limited at the 8 Coldstream Circle home, parking will be available at Granton Park/Boat Ramp on Evanton Road, which is less than a mile from Highlands Boulevard. Transportation to the home from Granton Park will be by pontoon boat or vehicle shuttle. Handicapped parking is available at the home on Coldstream Circle.
Approximately 600 people join the tour each year. It started 25 years ago as a way for the church members to raise money for charitable missions.
Since then, the Home Tour has grown and become a popular event the community looks forward to each year, said Andy O'Neil, co-chairman of this year's event along with Dave Hagaman.
"Normally, the tour will raise between $18,000 to $20,000 and every cent of it goes out to charitable organization," he said.
Thanks to many volunteers and the community support during the past 24 years of the Home Tour, the church has donated more than $300,000 to charitable agencies, he added.
Sixty-five percent of the proceeds are donated to faith-based organizations in Northwest Arkansas, including Gravette School Snack Paks, Meals on Wheels, Village House, Bella Vista Food Pantries, Salvation Army and Oasis Transitional Living for Women. The other 35 percent of the proceeds are donated to national and global missions, including UMCOR National Disaster Relief and El Refugio Mission in Columbia.
Five homes are located on Loch Lomond. Homeowners have generously allowed their homes to be toured by guests who buy tickets, he said.
The guests will be greeted at each home by hosts and hostesses who will highlight special features of each house to them, said D'Ann Brumett, publicity chairman. There will be separate entrances and exits at each home and booties will be provided to those touring the homes to protect the floors.
Guests on tour will also be able to buy raffle tickets for special gifts and a chance to win a $200 gift card at each home.
Pre-tour tickets with a map to the homes will be on sale beginning Aug. 1 for $10. Tickets will be $12 on tour day at each home.
Tickets may be purchased after Aug. 1 from any of the Bella Vista Arvest Bank locations (Highlands, Town Center or Sugar Creek), any Highlands Church member or at the Highlands Church office, 371 Glasgow Road. For more information, call the church at 479-855-2277.
-- Tom Throne of The Weekly Vista contributed to this story.
Community on 07/29/2015