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Beverly-Waterford Homecoming coming to Dodge Park this weekend

By Michelle Dillon 4 min read

BEVERLY -- The Beverly-Waterford Homecoming will be back again this year at Dodge Park July 18-20.

The homecoming has been taking place since World War II, according to American Legion Post 389 member and chairman of the event organizing committee Steve Wainwright.

"The guys came back home, some World War II veterans started it," he said.

He said it was a chance for the men to get together with their families and have fun and has evolved, but it has always included rides, games and food.

Wainwright said he has been involved in planning the homecoming since 1972, due to his family being full of veterans.

"My family is all veteran-oriented," he said.

The Homecoming will kick-off with a parade at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. He said it will start at Waterford Elementary, cross State Route 339 and go all the way through Beverly to Dodge Park.

According to Wainwright, the American Legion Post 389 Color Guard will lead the parade and the Beverly Volunteer Fire Department, the marching bands from Waterford and Beverly high schools and other groups will participate in the parade.

The Homecoming will run 6-10 p.m. July 18 and July 19 and 6-11 p.m. July 20, he said.

Homecoming attendees will be able to enjoy live music at the Doge Park gazebo each night of the event. Wainwright said Steve and Beverly Pottmeyer will play Thursday night, the Matt Hansell band will play Friday night and the Recyclables will play Saturday night.

According to Wainwright there will also be carnival rides and games by a New Matamoras company for people to enjoy. He said there will be a food booth that will serve "everything from steak sandwiches to chicken and noodles" and more.

According to Wainwright there will also be games of chance and bingo every night of the Homecoming.

He said there will be a garden tractor pull Friday night and an antique tractor pull called the "King of the Asphalt" Saturday night and both will start between 6-8 p.m.

There will be raffle drawings at around 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday for $100 cash and one around 11 p.m. Saturday for 75 different prizes, Wainwright said.

Raffle tickets are $10 for one ticket or $20 for three tickets, he said, and participants do not have to be present at the Homecoming to win on July 18 and July 19 but they will have to be present July 20 to win.

The raffle on July 20 has a big ticket item.

"The big one is a riding lawnmower," he said. "It's a money maker for us."

According to Wainwright, the post uses the money raised for things like setting off fireworks for the community on July 4 and scholarships.

He said all of the items and cash that are raffle prizes were donated by local businesses and he is especially thankful for that. He said 60 to 70 local businesses donated.

People have really supported the Homecoming and attendance has increased the last few years, Wainwright said.

"Ever since COVID-19, it's really gone up.," he said. "People look forward to getting out and (coming) home."

Wainwright is also thankful for the assistance of all the organizations that help the Legion post put on the Homecoming.

"We are helped tremendously by our Sons of the American Legion (Squadron 389), and the (American Legion) Auxiliary (Unit 289)," Wainwright said.

He thinks the Homecoming is a good way for people to "greet old friends."

"Get your kids and grandkids and come back home," he said.

Wainwright pointed out that admission to the Homecoming is free and the rides, food, games and raffles cost money.

"All we ask is you come enjoy yourself," he said.

Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com

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