The 2014 St. George Area Parade of Homes, a showcase of the finest in residential design sponsored by the Southern Utah Home Builders Association, is experiencing an attendance boom as interest in the housing market continues to rise.

From Kayenta’s desert landscape to the fairway-hugging Sunbrook planned communities, diversity in housing design and price has drawn crowds over the weekend to gather ideas or simply admire. Attendance is estimated at 40 percent higher than the 2013 Parade of Homes.

“The Parade gives people a lot of opportunities to compare communities and lifestyles in different areas of St. George,” Timothy Grogan of Southern Utah Development said. “We’re here to answer questions and promote development.”

The 28 homes scattered across Washington County range from affordable family residences around $350,000 to palatial estates valued at over $1.5 million. Some are custom-designed for clients and others are model homes showcasing the best of a community, but most are on the market.

“The St. George Area Parade of Homes has earned an outstanding reputation as being one of the best Parade of Homes in the country because of the quality craftsmanship, unique features and incredible landscapes,” said Mari Smith, director of operations for SUHBA. “The St. George Area Parade of Homes is a unique event because the 28 Parade homes are set among diverse and beautiful landscapes that can only be found in Southern Utah. We hear quite often this event is very unique because of the high quality of homes and the professionalism of the event.”