PHOTOS: LBI Annual Open House Tour

Want to see what was on display at the fundraiser that took place on Wednesday, Aug. 1, along the northern part of LBI?

Patch journalist Shawn Smith put together a photo gallery of the show's highlights. Chair members from the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts and Sciences selected seven homes, stretching from Surf City up to Barnegat Light.

According to co-chair Carin Kirkpatrick, homes are selected a few different ways. Some homes are approached by the LBIF, and others ask them to come and see if they would be able to participate.

“This tour helps to fund the foundations programs because we are a non-profit organization,” Kirkpatrick said. “Other than the arts and crafts fair, this is the biggest fundraiser we do.”

Preregistration for the tour was $40, the day of it was $45. To ensure the day runs smoothly, only 800 tickets are sold each year.

“You open your home to 800 to 850 people, that’s a lot of trust,” Kirkpatrick said. “There is no liability on the homeowner at all. The foundation has a vent insurance, so for this day it covers every single house in the tour.”

According to co-chair Lynn Billingham, visitors of the homes take something away from what they have seen.

“One of the homes in the tour did something very interesting. She wanted an ironing board in the bedroom, so she had a drawer built and had it put in,” Billingham said.

Kirkpatrick said that they would begin looking for homes for next year’s tour in about a week.

“The tour is always the first Wed in Aug,” she said. “We generally have most of our homes set before May.”

For more information about the tour, or to learn more about the LBIF, please visit www.lbifoundation.org or call (609) 494-1241.