Gulfport’s 11th annual Pink Flamingo Tour of Homes drew record crowds Saturday, March 5, with more than 750 visitors wandering the city’s leafy streets and singing praises of its architecture.
“It was our best ever,” said Jose Soska, a board member of the Gulfport Area Chamber of Commerce, which organized the event. “We probably did over 750 ticket sales. We broke all records for us.”
Each year the tour highlights homes in a different area of the city, and this year it was the Marina District that got all the attention. The theme of the event was “Welcome Aboard!”
Among those whose homes were featured were Denis and Lynn Frain, who completely updated a 1952 ranch at 4714 29th Ave. S. about a block away from the Gulfport Municipal Marina, where Denis has worked as harbormaster for more than three decades.
On Saturday the Frains proudly showed off favorite features of their modern home to the hundreds who tromped through, highlighting in particular the spanking new kitchen in tones of espresso, grey and stainless steel, and a slate fireplace they designed themselves.
But Denis said he also really enjoyed seeing the other homes on the tour in a private viewing for the homeowners earlier in the week.
“That was really fun,” he said. “Everybody has their own taste.”
Event organizers attributed the day’s large crowds to the great weather and to word spreading of Gulfport’s many offerings.
“Gulfport is just getting more popular,” Soska said. “People are getting interested in us.”