Belpre Homecoming opens festival season
By JOLENE CRAIGArticle Photos
BELPRE - Although rain threatened, the 76th Belpre Homecoming opened with sunny skies Thursday night.
Belpre Mayor Mike Lorentz was joined by Safety-Service Director Dale Myers; Marietta Mayor Mike Mullen; Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell; Charlotte Keim, president of the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce, and George Kellenberger, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley, to welcome in the festival season.
"As always, Belpre is the one to kick off the excitement in the valley with the 76th annual Belpre Homecoming," Kellenberger said.
Belpre Homecoming is the first of three area festivals with the Parkersburg Homecoming next weekend and the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta in September.
"We had a few rain showers earlier today, but they moved out and we have a great weekend ahead of us," said Jon Neff, chairman of the festival.
Lorentz, who was chairman of last year's festival, said Homecoming is different as mayor.
"I feel more responsible as mayor," he said.
Following the opening, the 2008 Little Mister Belpre and Little Miss Belpre pageants began at the stage.
Fourteen girls between the ages of 5 and 8 vied to impress judges and take up where Little Miss Belpre 2007 Taylor Cross left off.
Kariah Powell won the Little Miss Belpre 2008 title with the first runner-up being Briley Weekley and second runner-up Maggie Bennekamper, who was also named Little Miss Congeniality. Little Miss Photogenic is Braidy Winchester.
The other girls in the pageant were Allie Lemon, McKenzie Cameron, Cassandra Dennis, Nisha Hart, Alyssa Hutchinson, Dekotah Lemon, Ariana Nedeff, Sable Shields, Alora Stull, Brylee Weekley and Selena Wiggins.
The 2007 Little Mister Belpre L.J. Fry handed his title to Brody Weekley, who was also named Little Mister Photogenic. Little Mister Congeniality is Gabriel Stull.
The other Little Mister Belpre contestant was Nick Hampton.
The pageants will continue with eight girls competing in the Junior Miss Belpre pageant at 6 p.m. today. Four girls will be competing in both the Miss Teen Belpre and Miss Belpre pageants at 7 p.m. Saturday. All pageant competitions will be in the gazebo in Civitan Park.
The chamber will be selling Homecoming T-shirts at the Belpre Women's Club table and the chamber trailer.
The main entertainment of Homecoming will be country musician Chuck Wicks, who will appear on the main stage at 9 p.m. today, with local musician Bobby Kirl opening at 8:30 p.m.
The parade will be along Washington Boulevard beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, the final day of the event.
|
Donahue
|
|
|---|---|
|
08-08-08 2:24 PM
|
The Belpre Homecoming is the best ever. I rode my bike in the parade in 1960 and my aunt was Mrs Belpre that year. We had great fun and I met a lot of super friends. I lived near the park and was able to spend every night there. I hope everyone has a great time this year and please be safe. Ron Donahue
|
|
MatthewBB
|
|
|
08-08-08 12:15 PM
|
Hooray for the homecoming! Yaaay!
|