Homecoming festivities take place this weekend
It’s that time of year again for Viola residents and friends, a time of celebration and homecoming. The 2003 Viola Valley Homecoming will be held this Friday and Saturday and will feature a variety of activities that have made the annual observance one of the major events in Warren County.
According to homecoming board member Debbie Smartt, the first homecoming was held in 1986 as a one-time event, but was so successful that, after skipping 1987, the show was held again in 1988 and has been held every year since.
The festivities will kick off at 4 p.m. Friday and will feature everything from a parade, a mule show, and a variety of music acts to an antique tractor pull and silent auctions.
The mule show is a particular favorite, according to committee member Carole Summers, who, with husband Thomas, helps organize the show as well as participating in it, showing their own animals.
“It’s just open to anybody,” Summers said. “Any counties around, and in fact some people come from out of state.”
Summers said many contestants also participate in the parade with their mules and wagons.
The antique tractor pull is also a big draw for the celebration, according to Smartt, who helps organize this event along with Samuel McColloch. Like the mule show, the tractor pull also attracts participants from around the region.
“There’s always a few from out of state,” Smartt said. “From Kentucky and there have been some this year that have called from Alabama saying they’re coming.”
Children also play a big part in the tractor pull with their own event, called the Mini Pedal Pull. Any child 100 pounds and under can participate in this event with a modified pedal tractor and an authentic, though child-sized, sled.
“If you haven’t ever seen it, you should come and see it,” Smartt said. “We usually have 75 to 100 children that come and pull.”
Smartt said many of the same children come and participate year after year and enjoy seeing pictures of themselves from past events, which she takes and displays on poster board each year.
The event has become so popular, in fact, that she and McColloch have begun taking the show on the road, as it were, presenting it at the Warren County Fair, the Coffee County Fair, the Grundy County Fair, and several other regional celebrations.
Every year a Citizen of the Year is selected for the homecoming, with this year’s choice being a bittersweet one for organizers. They chose the late Peggy Sue Bess, who lost her life in an automobile accident not long before last year’s homecoming. Bess was very involved in the homecoming celebration, painting the gazebo and created some eye-catching pictures on the grandstand. She also helped collect auction items and worked in the food booths.
“She was just a really good person,” said homecoming board member Debbie Smartt, “and involved in trying to do anything she could for the beautification and upkeep of Viola.”
Smartt says this year’s celebration promises to be a great one and everyone should come out and enjoy all the good food and fun activities.
“There’s something going on just about all the time,” Smartt said. “We try to have something for everybody.”
Friday, Aug. 8
4 p.m. Concessions open
4:30 p.m. Silent Auction – Ballpark
5 p.m. Supper served by the Morrison Ruritan
General store will be open
New farm equipment on display
5:45 p.m. Auction – Ballpark
8:30 p.m. On the Road Again Show – Ballpark
Saturday, Aug. 9
8 a.m. Parade line-up at Viola Community Center & Ida Ramsey’s
9 a.m. Parade begins
9:45 a.m. Opening ceremonies
Flag raising by Warren County ROTC
A special presentation
10 a.m. Vintage car display, antique tractor show, gas engine display, new and old farm equipment, horseshoeing, arts & crafts, general store, ice cream shoppe, modular train display, antique hand tools, children’s activities, new vehicle display and all concessions open.
10 a.m. Pioneerettes performing
10:30 a.m. Sheepherding – Ballpark
Horseshoeing demonstration
11 a.m. Rhythm Express – Gazebo
Children carnival games
11:30 a.m. Mule show 24 classes – Ballpark
Noon Sack lunch by the Women’s Improvement Club
12:30 p.m. Monte Swan and Cloverleaf – Gazebo
2:30 p.m. Silver and Gold Band
3:30 p.m. Registration for Mini Pedal Pull – front of Grand Stand
3:45 p.m. To be announced
4 p.m. Children’s Mini Pedal Pull – Ballpark
5 p.m. Supper served by the Viola community Volunteer Fire Department
5:15 p.m. To be announced
6 p.m. Antique tractor pull – Ballpark
7 p.m. Gospel groups performing –
Gazebo Featuring:
Just Passin’ Through
Coleman Looper Family
Neiman Kell
Richard Graham
Bob Reed
Caveliers Quartet