Want an insider’s look at some of the area’s coolest houses? Like to decorate or looking for new ideas for your own home? Want to spend a fun day and kick off Sunfest weekend while supporting the local arts community? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the Art League of Ocean City has a fun adventure for you.

The 10th Anniversary Sand Castle Home Tour takes off this Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., for two glorious days of visiting the homes and gardens of some of the area’s most interesting addresses. Included on this year’s tour will be 11 special residences in Ocean City, West Ocean City and Berlin.  Homeowners – who have graciously opened their homes for the tour to benefit the Art League and the arts in the Ocean City area – have been busily putting the finishing touches on their homes and gardens these last several weeks so all is ship-shape for the 1,000-plus visitors who take the opportunity every year, often arm-in-arm with family and friends, to spend an autumn day out and about at homes by the sea, in town and in the surrounding countryside.

Homes on this year’s tour include the Ocean City residences of Kim and Mark Picone, Juan and Kelly Franzetti, Peck and Patti Miller, Marie Karl, Suzanne Glover, Chris and Marilyn Spendley, and Palmer and Sandy Gillis. West Ocean City homes on tour are those of Kathy and Mark Clark, and John Meyers. Berlin homes are those of Maury Wimbrow and Susan Ayers Wimbrow, and Bill and Kristine Hudson.

Volunteer coordinator for the event, Phaedra Brown, says that “it takes about 300 volunteer docents to make this event the success it is every year.” Volunteer docents are from the Art League, local real estate companies, community organizations, church groups, and a cadre of individuals who love the opportunity to serve as ambassadors for the arts. The annual home tour is a major fundraiser for the Art League and docents “are the integral piece that makes sure our tour visitors move through the houses smoothly and are able to see and enjoy all the fine features these beautiful homes have to offer.  It’s a great way to support the Ocean City Center for the Arts and the Art League and we salute all of our volunteers for the great job they do as ambassadors of the Art League and Ocean City.”

Tickets are $30 each and include a tour book with detailed information on all the homes, driving directions, and special offers by tour sponsors and advertisers.  The book serves as the entrance ticket to the 11 homes on the tour. For tickets and more information, go online at www.artleagueofoceancity.com , call 410-524-9433 or visit the Art League headquarters on 94^th Street Bayside at the Ocean City Center for the Arts. Tickets are limited so reserve in advance. To pick up tour booklets last minute on either day of the tour, you must visit the Art League at the 94^th Street Ocean City Center for the Arts, where staff will be on duty starting at 8:30 a.m.