It’s time for fun in valley at annual Viola Homecoming
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The 21st annual Viola Valley Homecoming celebration is set for this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 10-11, and it’s a perfect time to pay a visit to this friendly and picturesque town.
Viola’s Citizen of the Year, Monte Swann, will serve as the Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal. Since this year’s celebration is an official bicentennial event, the parade’s theme will be ‘Celebrating Warren County’s Bicentennial’ and all floats should follow that theme.
Viola Valley Homecoming Commission president Trent Prater says not only is the celebration one of the highlights of the late summer season in Warren County, it also provides funds for a number of important community programs.
‘We all come out and have a really good time and try to raise some money,’ Prater said. ‘Part of the money we raise goes back into the community center for the maintenance and upkeep of it.’
Prater said the event has done much for the community over the years.
‘It paid off the town hall at one time,’ Prater said. ‘The money goes back into the town really, and helps out with a lot of things. It’s a small town and doesn’t have a lot of money, so this is a big help.’
Prater says the town has always been appreciative, and amazed, at the community’s reaction and support for the celebration.
‘We’re just a little town with 125 to 130 people,’ Prater said, ‘and we’ll go to about 2,000 to 3,000 in two days. It’s sort of shocking to see that many people down here. We just try to welcome everybody and make sure everybody has a good time and enjoys themselves. It’s great. I love to do it and I love to see it.’
Prater says the Homecoming Commission appreciates all the hard work everyone puts in, noting that after 20 celebrations, they’ve gotten it down to an art.
‘People just wouldn’t believe how much work it takes to put this thing on,’ Prater said. ‘But we’ve all been doing it for a long time, so everybody knows what to do, everybody knows their job, so I don’t have to worry about it that much.’
Viola Mayor Kevin Lawrence agrees the homecoming is a boon to the community and one the biggest days of the year for Viola.
‘It means a lot,’ Lawrence said. ‘It raises money for many different things. They’ve given the fire department money. They’ve actually helped pay off some debt for the city that otherwise might not have happened.’
Lawrence says it really is a homecoming for many.
‘It brings the whole community together,’ Lawrence said. ‘And it brings people back who haven’t been to the community in a long time. People who haven’t been here for awhile come back and see friends, and, of course, talk about the ones who are no longer with us.’