Welcome Home

Welcome Home 2008. It's Bevier Homecoming time. Anyone and everyone in Bevier and within a 25-125 mile radius come back home for this annual festival. Bevier is celebrating it's sesquecentennial this year. Which means there is all kinds of things going on. Right now, August 6-9 is what locals refer to as "Homecoming". It has absolutely nothing to do with football. Just family, friends and loads of fun.
This is the Homecoming Stage. All the entertainment takes place here. Tonight Highway 101 takes the stage for 2 shows. Many volunteers work their butts off to provide Nashville entertainment for free. It's my understanding, the fella who donated the land for the Homecoming park did so with the condition that entertainment would be free. It's paid for by the concessions that are sold in the concession stand. Locals refer to the burgers as the best hamburgers around. Then of course there's the beer garden, woohoo. Take a look at the sign above the stage, it's put in place every year just a few days before homecoming begins.
Today at 1pm, was the parade. People start lining up at least one hour before it begins. It truly is one of the best parades around. I remember when I was young, meaning a little girl, there were fancy floats all decorated fancy. They don't really go to those extremes anymore and I miss those fancy floats. They were decorated with mounds of tissue paper, balloons, ribbons, and many creative ideas.
This is my mom and her "little brother" Lentry.
He and wife Wanda came to watch the festivities too. Let's get started.
Bear with me, I couldn't work my camera fast enough to maneuver the zoom button. Here's the sheriff of the county. Sheriff Bob Dawson is also homegrown from Bevier. He has started the parade for many years now.
Then comes the local PD.

The fire truck from the fire dept.

Antique fire trucks from other locals.The Grand Marshall. John R. Amidei. He was the school superintendent for many, many years. My friend Gayla for Oatmeal & Whimsy had a teeny little tear in her eye when he cruised by. Lots of folks remember him.

And of course the Homecoming Queen and her Court. I must admit, they had beautiful colored dresses this year.

I took this pic while she was talking to her aunt. Lime green is her color!

There were a few floats...

Then there were cars...

and redneck rides...

hopefully that was just water he was squirting out of his "bucket", mom got a little soaked...and gymnasts...

and Shriners...

and family reunions...

and class reunions...

and politicians...and tractors...and horses...and candy catchers. Get that candy cowboy!! That's it for now. I have more pictures for later. Have a great weekend. When the hubby gets done golfing for the day, we are headed back for some more homecoming!!