Millersburg celebrates Annual Homecoming this weekend
Pull on your cowboy boots, saddle up the horses and come on over to Millersburg on Saturday and Sunday for the Annual Homecoming Celebration sponsored by the Millersburg-Ocqueoc Business Association (MOBA).
The overall them of this year?s celebration is ?Wild, Wild West.? MOBA treasurer Amy Whitsitt said the theme was chosen over others in order to set it apart from neighboring festivals.
?WE WANTED something different that other areas didn?t have this year,? said Whitsitt. ?It will be something fun for the kids as well.? The Homecoming kicks off early Saturday morning with the 5K run/walk. This is the seventh year for the event, and every year has been a success. Last year?s overall winners were Joe Cantwell and Mandi Zemba.
Registration begins Saturday at 7:45 a.m. near the old train depot. Cost for registration is $17 for the 5K, and $12 for the one-mile fun run. The race begins at 8:30 a.m. ?Everyone who enters will receive a T-shirt,? said race organizer Wendy Robins. ?Everyone who crosses the finish line will receive a ribbon, and we have medals for first through third place winners in about 13 age divisions. The top two overall male and female finishers will receive trophies.?
The annual Skeet Shoot is the next event on the agenda, beginning with registration at 9:30 a.m. at the Presque Isle County Fairgrounds in Millersburg. The event, organized by Bob Pochmara, begins at 10 a.m.
THE GRAND Parade will begin lining up at 11 a.m. on Freel Highway, and begins its trip through the heart of Millersburg at noon. The parade usually lasts for about one hour, and is organized by Sharon Winfield. Winfield said parade entries can register by showing up at 11 a.m.
New this year, the Millersburg Fire Department is preparing to battle it out ? water fight style ? with other fire fighters from the area. The water fights begin immediately after the parade, at about 1 p.m. on Luce Street, near Pine Lumber. ?The Millersburg Fire Department wanted to get involved in something downtown,? said Whitsitt. ?This will be something fun for everyone to enjoy, and hopefully it will be a warm day.?
Kids will be able to enjoy the annual kid games at 2 p.m. in the downtown area. Games could include sack races, egg tosses, eating contests, and more! Following the kid games will be the adult games at 3 p.m.
Adults can tap into their inner child in order to participate in bed races, shopping cart races, and more. These races start at the Village office. The Kids River Raft Parade begins at 4 p.m. at the end of Cedar Street. Children of all ages can enter their decorated homemade raft and float it down to Russell Memorial Park. First place for best-decorated raft will win a lucky girl or boy a Dairy Queen certificate.
The Duck Race follows the raft parade at 4:30 p.m. at Russell Memorial Park. Ducks can be purchased, starting Friday, at the Mini Mart in Millersburg at $1 each. Half of the money raised will be divided between first, second, and third place winners. All throughout Saturday will be the Historical Display and bake sale at the old train depot, as well as the antique tractor display throughout town.
THE HOMECOMING Celebration continues on Sunday with the Bum
?The Bump and Run usually does really well,? said Whitsitt. ?It is a big family event with a lot of families coming back every year ? it?s a big thing.? The Millersburg Fire Department sponsors the Bump and Run. During the intermission, the Fire Association will announce the winner of its truck raffle.
The entire Millersburg Homecoming is organized by MOBA, which has been organized since 1980.
?A lot of local businesses have given donations that make it possible to have the homecoming,? said Whitsitt.