Tour of Homes Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock Tour of Homes 2025 - Over $86K to 33 Local Groups

Thirty-three local non-profit organizations serving the High Country will share the $86,600 net proceeds from this year’s 67th annual Blowing Rock Tour of Homes. The St. Mary of the Hills Outreach Committee received over $161,000 in requests from programs serving those in need, demonstrating that the work of the many volunteers who pitched in to make this year’s Tour a resounding success is more urgent than ever. The programs feed the hungry, clothe the needy, provide shelter and sanctuary, offer educational and recovery services, and care for children.  Fr. Andrew Hege announced the grants saying, “We are called by the Gospel to care for those who need us, and the Tour provides one way to answer that call.”

The theme of this year’s Tour, following in the wake of Hurricane Helene, was “Who Is My Neighbor?”.  As Tour co-chair John Jordan explained, “The parable of the Good Samaritan shows that a neighbor is anyone in need whom we are able to help.”

The following programs are now receiving grants: Hospitality House Shelter and WeCan; Community Care Clinic; Hunger and Health Coalition; WAMY; Western Youth Network; Blue Ridge Conservancy; Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture; Casting Bread Ministry; Back2School Festival; Blowing Rock Cares; Blowing Rock Library, Parks and Recreation, School, Women’s Club, and Police; Club 12; Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge; L. Dawn Franklin Memorial Fund; Crossnore School; F.A.R.M. Café; Habitat for Humanity; High Country Caregivers; Mountain Alliance; BRAHM; OASIS; New Directions Mustard Seed; Quiet Givers; Valle Crucis Conference Center; Watauga Arts Council; Watauga Children’s Council; Watauga Humane Society; and the Watauga Community Housing Trust.  Three of the grants specifically address ongoing issues following Hurricane Helene.

These grants are only possible thanks to the countless local volunteers who were donors, hostesses, flower arrangers, drivers, organizers, bakers, and cleaners, the generosity of those who underwrote Tour expenses, the Morse-Ziel, Gravely, Sweet, and Robinette families who opened their lovely homes for the hundreds of people who participated in the Tour, Rumple Presbyterian Church who made their Ben Long frescoes open, and the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, which opened its doors for the Tour cafe...bringing many Blowing Rock neighbors together to help all our neighbors.

The Blowing Rock Tour of Homes is held each year on the fourth Friday of July, and all net proceeds are given as grants to area non-profits serving neighbors in need.