Brunswick Forest in the Brunswick County Parade of Homes 2026

The 2026 Brunswick County Parade of Homes has wrapped, and once again Brunswick Forest was proud to be part of the showcase. Over two weekends this October, prospective buyers, design lovers, and curious neighbors toured some of the finest new construction in coastal North Carolina, and several of the standouts were right here in our community in Leland, NC. From craftsman-style custom homes to thoughtfully designed coastal floor plans, Brunswick Forest’s featured homes drew well-deserved attention. 

If you joined us during the Parade, thank you for stopping by. And if you missed it, don’t worry! This recap covers the builders, the floor plans, and the design trends that defined 2026, plus how you can still tour our model homes year-round. 

2026 Parade at a Glance

• Event: Brunswick County Parade of Homes 2026 

• Dates: October 16–18 and October 23–25, 12–5 p.m. each day 

• Host organizer: Brunswick County Home Builders Association 

• Scope: 40+ homes open to the public across Leland, Southport, Calabash, Bolivia, and Shallotte, plus dozens of virtual tours 

• Brunswick Forest Participation: Multiple models from preferred home builders, including award-winning homes from Liberty Homes and Stanley Martin Homes.  

The 2026 Parade of Homes Comes to Brunswick Forest 

The Brunswick County Parade of Homes is an annual tradition organized by the Brunswick County Home Builders Association, a nonprofit representing more than 300 members across the Cape Fear region’s homebuilding community. Each fall, the Parade opens the doors to new and custom homes throughout Brunswick County, giving the public a rare, in-person look at the latest in local construction, craftsmanship, and design. 

This year’s Parade ran across two weekends, October 16–18 and October 23–25, with homes open daily from noon to 5 p.m. In total, more than forty homes were open to tour in person, spanning communities from Leland to Southport, Calabash, Bolivia, and Shallotte.  

For Brunswick Forest, the Parade is always a highlight. As one of the area’s premier master-planned communities, we love the chance to show visitors not just beautiful homes, but the lifestyle that surrounds them.  

Diamond Award Winning Homes

Brunswick Forest’s award-winning homes this year came from respected building partners, Liberty Homes and Stanley Martin Homes. Together they captured the range of what’s possible in the community. Here’s a closer look at the floor plans that stood out and won this year’s Diamond Awards!  

Brinkley by Liberty Homes was a showstopper. Located on Fantail Drive, this 3,213-square-foot craftsman home offers four bedrooms and three and a half baths. Its exterior layers wooden gables, dormers, and mixed materials beneath a covered entryway, while inside, a glass-enclosed lanai with a fireplace, a first-floor study with built-ins, and a main-level owner’s suite make it as livable as it is striking.  

Copperwynd by Liberty Homes turned heads as a brand-new coastal home on Fox Briar Drive. At 3,962 square feet with four bedrooms and three baths, it’s the largest of the group. Highlights include a chef’s kitchen with a large island and walk-in pantry, a sunroom with a beamed vaulted ceiling and glass walls, and a wraparound TimberTech deck overlooking the homesite.  

Bayport by Liberty Homes offered a more modest footprint at 2,435 square feet, with four bedrooms and three baths. Board-and-batten accents and wood shutters give it coastal charm. As part of Liberty’s value-driven Blue Star Collection, floor plans such as the Bayport give buyers access to the quality Liberty is known for, at a more accessible price point.  

The Wallace by Stanley Martin Homes rounded out the lineup on Abberley Way. This 2,450-square-foot home features three bedrooms, three baths, and a two-car garage. Inside, custom trim and detailed millwork run throughout, complemented by tray ceilings, a gourmet kitchen built for entertaining, a dedicated study, a private bonus suite, and a front porch. 

Four homes, two builders, and a clear theme: thoughtful design built for the way people actually live on the coast. To view more preferred builders that craft outstanding homes across our community, visit our preferred builders page. 

What Visitors Loved Most: Standout Design Trends of 2026 

Walking through this year’s featured homes, a handful of design trends appeared again and again. Here’s a useful preview of where coastal home design is heading in 2026. 

Main-level owner’s suites were nearly universal. Across Brinkley, Copperwynd, Bayport, and the Wallace, the primary suite sat on the first floor. For buyers planning to age in place or simply craving single-level convenience, this remains the most requested feature in coastal Carolina homes. 

Flexible bonus spaces also stood out. Whether it was Bayport’s upstairs flex space, the Wallace’s private bonus suite, or dedicated first-floor studies, 2026’s homes were designed to flex. Remote work, multigenerational living, and visiting guests have made adaptable square footage a priority. 

Indoor-outdoor living was everywhere. Screened porches, glass-enclosed lanais with fireplaces, beamed sunrooms, and wraparound decks blurred the line between inside and out, a natural fit for the mild coastal climate that makes Brunswick Forest so appealing. 

Chef-inspired kitchens continued to anchor the home. Large islands, walk-in pantries, and dedicated dining and entertaining spaces reflected how central the kitchen has become to daily life and hosting alike. 

Finally, elevated craftsmanship tied it all together. Custom millwork, tray and vaulted ceilings, mixed-material craftsman exteriors, and details like TimberTech decking and metal roof accents showed a clear move toward durable, design-forward finishes. Visitors consistently pointed to these touches as what set the homes apart.

Neighborhoods Showcased Across the Community 

One of the things Parade visitors appreciate most about Brunswick Forest is how many distinct neighborhoods live within a single master-planned community. The featured homes this year gave a great cross-section of that variety. 

Liberty Homes’ custom residences showcased the community’s larger, design-driven custom offerings: homes built around personal taste, generous square footage, and signature architectural detail. These are the kinds of homes that remind buyers Brunswick Forest isn’t a one-size-fits-all development. 

At the same time, Stanley Martin Homes’ Wallace reflected the appeal of newer, lower-maintenance coastal designs. Stanley Martin Homes builds in Trestle Ridge, our neighborhood of main-level living floor plans, and you can learn more on the Trestle Ridge neighborhood page. It’s a popular choice for buyers who want new construction without a large yard to manage. 

Beyond the Parade homes, Brunswick Forest spans 4,500 wooded acres with neighborhoods ranging from low-maintenance patio homes to spacious custom estates. Whatever stage of life you’re in, there’s likely a fit here. Explore the full lineup on our community neighborhoods overview. 

Location plays a big role in that appeal, too. Brunswick Forest sits just about ten minutes from historic downtown Wilmington and roughly thirty minutes from the beaches of the Cape Fear coast. That means Parade visitors weren’t only touring beautiful homes. They were previewing a lifestyle with riverfront dining, coastal culture, and sandy shorelines all within easy reach. It’s a combination of quality construction and unbeatable setting that keeps Brunswick Forest a Parade favorite year after year. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

When was the 2026 Brunswick County Parade of Homes? It took place over two weekends: October 16–18 and October 23–25, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m. each day. 

Who organizes the Parade of Homes? It’s hosted annually by the Brunswick County Home Builders Association, a nonprofit with more than 300 members across the Cape Fear region. 

Which builders were featured at Brunswick Forest in the Parade? Liberty Homes (Brinkley, Copperwynd, and Bayport), Stanley Martin Homes (the Wallace), and Trusst Builder Group (Candor II) were among the community’s featured entries. 

Can I still see these homes? Yes. While the Parade has ended, Brunswick Forest offers model homes and available properties to tour year-round. 

Missed the Parade? Tour Our Model Homes Year-Round 

If you weren’t able to make it out during the Parade weekends, there’s still a wonderful way to experience everything our builders and neighborhoods have to offer. Brunswick Forest welcomes visitors throughout the year, with model homes, move-in-ready properties, and available homesites ready to explore whenever the timing is right for you. 

You can start by browsing current listings on our available properties page, then come see the lifestyle in person: the miles of walking and biking trails, resort-style pools, fitness centers, and the Cape Fear National championship golf course that make everyday life here so special. Take a closer look at everything on our amenities and lifestyle guide. 

When you’re ready, our team would love to help you plan a visit. Request the Coastal Discovery Package to experience Brunswick Forest firsthand, or reach out anytime through our contact page or by calling (888)-342-1468. The Parade may be over for another year, but your coastal home is always just a tour away!