From Abe to Oz, homecoming has it all
BY ROGER SCHLUETER
News-Democrat
MASCOUTAH - Nearly four score years ago, city fathers brought forth on this area a new festival, dedicated to the proposition that all men should let their hair down at least once each summer.
Their promise will be kept in spades again this weekend when the Mascoutah Improvement Association stages its jampacked 79th homecoming in Scheve Park.
A huge car show, top-flight entertainment, the ever-popular firefighters muster and truck pull -- organizers once again have stuffed more activities into 21/2 days than some festivals offer in a week. Even Abraham Lincoln will show up to deliver the real Gettysburg address -- not to mention "Wizard of Oz" movie Munchkin Mickey Carroll, who will lend extra magic to Saturday night's parade.
"It's a biggie, that's for sure," said Greg Hoskins, an association board member.
Bigger than ever, he could have said, thanks to a decision by area 4-H clubs last year to move their livestock exhibits and projects from the St. Clair County Fair to the homecoming. To welcome them, organizers have erected a permanent steel building to replace the rented tent that housed the animals here last year.
"We're really, really pleased to have them as a part of us," Hoskins said. "I think the old-fashioned festival atmosphere really lends itself to the 4-H organization."
Indeed, you can't get much more old-fashioned than the pre-1940 tractor pull that will kick off the homecoming at 6 p.m. Friday or the draft-horse relay race and pull starting at 7 p.m. Saturday or the threshing demonstrations with gas- and steam-powered tractors Saturday night and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Then, there are the plowing demonstrations at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, tours of the historic Berger-Kiel log home from 1 to 4 p.m. and a display of antique machinery outside the house throughout the gala. Thirsty? Be sure to order a root beer float with 1919-brand root beer and horse-drawn, homemade ice cream.
Of course, if you're talking really old-fashioned, you can't do better than Honest Abe giving his eloquent Gettysburg speech at 2 p.m. Sunday from the back of the railway car at the depot. The appearance by Bruce Shawver, pastor of Love Chapel Christian Church in Erwin, Tenn., is being sponsored by CrossPointe Christian Church in Mascoutah. Shawver also will speak at a service for 4-H exhibitors at 8 a.m. Sunday.
Still, that's just the start of the activities. Thousands will fill downtown Mascoutah to watch massive parades make their way down Main and Sixth streets to the park at 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Carroll will be the guest of honor for the procession Saturday and will later sign autographs at the park, Hoskins said.
The entertainment lineup is sure to be another crowd-pleaser, starting with The Smash Band from 7 to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday.
"We had them for our 75th anniversary, and people really came out," Hoskins said of the popular St. Louis band led by radio personality Asher "Smash" Benrubi. "Man, they just packed them in."
Also on the main stage at the depot: The Jorrells from 7:30-11:30 p.m. on Friday and the Jump Starts with Dan and John Davis from 6:30-10:30 p.m. on Sunday. In addition, favorite son Danny Krausz will perform Sunday afternoon and Tom and Kathy LaQuet will play all three days at the pole barn.
As usual, the homecoming will go out in style Sunday, starting with a Trailnet bike ride at 7:30 a.m. and a car show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., complete with a breakfast for exhibitors starting at 8:30 a.m.
"Believe me, it's the largest car show I've seen anywhere in the area," Hoskins said of the exhibition, which draws hundreds of entries from antiques to the latest street rods.
At noon, area firefighters will battle it out for bragging rights in the annual firemen's muster (don't forget a raincoat if you're going to watch). Then, even kids can get in on the action during the children's pedal pull at 1:30. A big truck pull and $5,000 prize drawing will wrap things up starting at 7 p.m.
Discount ride tickets for the Saturday and Sunday afternoon matinees are on sale now -- or buy them at the park. And, just so you won't miss the German-style potato pancakes and homemade pie, food stands will open at 5 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday.
MASCOUTAH HOMECOMING
Scheve Park
Friday
5 p.m. -- Food stands open
6 p.m. -- Antique tractor pull
Saturday
11 a.m. -- Tractor pull (1941-1955 tractors)
1 p.m. -- Food stands open
1-4 p.m. -- Ride matinee
1-4 p.m. -- Berger-Kiel log house open
3 p.m. -- Plowing demonstration
5 p.m. -- Parade (with Mickey Carroll)
7 p.m. -- Draft horse relay race and pull
Sunday
7:30 a.m. -- Trailnet bike ride
11 a.m. -- Food stands open
11 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Car show
Noon -- Firefighters muster
1-4 p.m. -- Ride matinee
1-4 p.m. -- Berger-Kiel log house open
1:30 p.m. -- Threshing demonstration
1:30 p.m. -- Children's pedal tractor pull
2 p.m. -- Gettysburg address
3 p.m. -- Plowing demonstration
5 p.m. -- Parade
7 p.m. -- Truck pull
10 p.m. -- Drawing
Entertainment
Friday
7:30-11:30 p.m. -- The Jorrells (depot)
7-11 p.m. -- Tom and Kathy LaQuet (pole barn)
Saturday
2-5 p.m. -- Tom and Kathy LaQuet
7-11:30 p.m. -- The Smash Band
Sunday
12:30-3:30 p.m. -- Danny Krausz
6:30-10:30 p.m. -- Jump Starts (depot)
7-10 p.m. -- Tom and Kathy LaQuet (pole barn)
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/entertainment/15186873.htm
News-Democrat
MASCOUTAH - Nearly four score years ago, city fathers brought forth on this area a new festival, dedicated to the proposition that all men should let their hair down at least once each summer.
Their promise will be kept in spades again this weekend when the Mascoutah Improvement Association stages its jampacked 79th homecoming in Scheve Park.
A huge car show, top-flight entertainment, the ever-popular firefighters muster and truck pull -- organizers once again have stuffed more activities into 21/2 days than some festivals offer in a week. Even Abraham Lincoln will show up to deliver the real Gettysburg address -- not to mention "Wizard of Oz" movie Munchkin Mickey Carroll, who will lend extra magic to Saturday night's parade.
"It's a biggie, that's for sure," said Greg Hoskins, an association board member.
Bigger than ever, he could have said, thanks to a decision by area 4-H clubs last year to move their livestock exhibits and projects from the St. Clair County Fair to the homecoming. To welcome them, organizers have erected a permanent steel building to replace the rented tent that housed the animals here last year.
"We're really, really pleased to have them as a part of us," Hoskins said. "I think the old-fashioned festival atmosphere really lends itself to the 4-H organization."
Indeed, you can't get much more old-fashioned than the pre-1940 tractor pull that will kick off the homecoming at 6 p.m. Friday or the draft-horse relay race and pull starting at 7 p.m. Saturday or the threshing demonstrations with gas- and steam-powered tractors Saturday night and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Then, there are the plowing demonstrations at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, tours of the historic Berger-Kiel log home from 1 to 4 p.m. and a display of antique machinery outside the house throughout the gala. Thirsty? Be sure to order a root beer float with 1919-brand root beer and horse-drawn, homemade ice cream.
Of course, if you're talking really old-fashioned, you can't do better than Honest Abe giving his eloquent Gettysburg speech at 2 p.m. Sunday from the back of the railway car at the depot. The appearance by Bruce Shawver, pastor of Love Chapel Christian Church in Erwin, Tenn., is being sponsored by CrossPointe Christian Church in Mascoutah. Shawver also will speak at a service for 4-H exhibitors at 8 a.m. Sunday.
Still, that's just the start of the activities. Thousands will fill downtown Mascoutah to watch massive parades make their way down Main and Sixth streets to the park at 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Carroll will be the guest of honor for the procession Saturday and will later sign autographs at the park, Hoskins said.
The entertainment lineup is sure to be another crowd-pleaser, starting with The Smash Band from 7 to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday.
"We had them for our 75th anniversary, and people really came out," Hoskins said of the popular St. Louis band led by radio personality Asher "Smash" Benrubi. "Man, they just packed them in."
Also on the main stage at the depot: The Jorrells from 7:30-11:30 p.m. on Friday and the Jump Starts with Dan and John Davis from 6:30-10:30 p.m. on Sunday. In addition, favorite son Danny Krausz will perform Sunday afternoon and Tom and Kathy LaQuet will play all three days at the pole barn.
As usual, the homecoming will go out in style Sunday, starting with a Trailnet bike ride at 7:30 a.m. and a car show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., complete with a breakfast for exhibitors starting at 8:30 a.m.
"Believe me, it's the largest car show I've seen anywhere in the area," Hoskins said of the exhibition, which draws hundreds of entries from antiques to the latest street rods.
At noon, area firefighters will battle it out for bragging rights in the annual firemen's muster (don't forget a raincoat if you're going to watch). Then, even kids can get in on the action during the children's pedal pull at 1:30. A big truck pull and $5,000 prize drawing will wrap things up starting at 7 p.m.
Discount ride tickets for the Saturday and Sunday afternoon matinees are on sale now -- or buy them at the park. And, just so you won't miss the German-style potato pancakes and homemade pie, food stands will open at 5 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday.
MASCOUTAH HOMECOMING
Scheve Park
Friday
5 p.m. -- Food stands open
6 p.m. -- Antique tractor pull
Saturday
11 a.m. -- Tractor pull (1941-1955 tractors)
1 p.m. -- Food stands open
1-4 p.m. -- Ride matinee
1-4 p.m. -- Berger-Kiel log house open
3 p.m. -- Plowing demonstration
5 p.m. -- Parade (with Mickey Carroll)
7 p.m. -- Draft horse relay race and pull
Sunday
7:30 a.m. -- Trailnet bike ride
11 a.m. -- Food stands open
11 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Car show
Noon -- Firefighters muster
1-4 p.m. -- Ride matinee
1-4 p.m. -- Berger-Kiel log house open
1:30 p.m. -- Threshing demonstration
1:30 p.m. -- Children's pedal tractor pull
2 p.m. -- Gettysburg address
3 p.m. -- Plowing demonstration
5 p.m. -- Parade
7 p.m. -- Truck pull
10 p.m. -- Drawing
Entertainment
Friday
7:30-11:30 p.m. -- The Jorrells (depot)
7-11 p.m. -- Tom and Kathy LaQuet (pole barn)
Saturday
2-5 p.m. -- Tom and Kathy LaQuet
7-11:30 p.m. -- The Smash Band
Sunday
12:30-3:30 p.m. -- Danny Krausz
6:30-10:30 p.m. -- Jump Starts (depot)
7-10 p.m. -- Tom and Kathy LaQuet (pole barn)
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/entertainment/15186873.htm
