Right as Rain: Belpre Homecoming weathers showers with parade, fishing derby and more
Katie Sprouse hands her one-year-old daughter Harper Sprouse a tootsie roll that was thrown from a float during the Belpre Homecoming festival parade Saturday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Cutler resident Grayson Hall, 8, casts a line into the pond at Civitan Park during a kids fishing derby Saturday during the Belpre Homecoming festival. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Coolville resident Alayna Byrd, 7, goes for a piece of candy during the Belpre Homecoming festival parade Saturday morning. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Members of the Belpre Volunteer Fire Department drive emergency vehicles while a crowd watches under umbrellas to combat the rain during the Belpre Homecoming festival parade Saturday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Festival goers line up to ride the merry-go-round Sunday at the Belpre Homecoming. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Katie Sprouse hands her one-year-old daughter Harper Sprouse a tootsie roll that was thrown from a float during the Belpre Homecoming festival parade Saturday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Cutler resident Grayson Hall, 8, casts a line into the pond at Civitan Park during a kids fishing derby Saturday during the Belpre Homecoming festival. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Coolville resident Alayna Byrd, 7, goes for a piece of candy during the Belpre Homecoming festival parade Saturday morning. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Members of the Belpre Volunteer Fire Department drive emergency vehicles while a crowd watches under umbrellas to combat the rain during the Belpre Homecoming festival parade Saturday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Festival goers line up to ride the merry-go-round Sunday at the Belpre Homecoming. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
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BELPRE -- The third day of the 92nd annual Belpre Homecoming Festival saw crowds gather for fishing, a parade and more despite rain showers Saturday.
The day kicked off with a kids fishing derby. According to a city of Belpre Facebook post, 150 catfish were released into the pond at Civitan park in preparation for the derby.
Kassie Hall, from Cutler came to the fishing derby with her husband and three children in spite of the rain. She and her family sat under a large tree to provide some protection from the weather.
"We usually come to the parade," Hall said.
She said they decided to come to the derby because of her youngest child, Grayson Hall, 8.
"My youngest loves to fish," she said.
Kassie Hall said they had not caught any fish yet on Saturday morning but that didn't discourage Grayson Hall.
"I think I had one," he said. "Half my worm is ate."
Grayson Hall said his favorite thing about fishing is "catching big bass."
A crowd of people lined both sides of Washington Boulevard for the annual parade, which started at 10 a.m.
Kathy Dowler, Deidra Byrd and Deidra Byrd's daughter Alayna Byrd, 7, came from the Coolville area to see the parade. They were prepared for the weather with umbrellas and a rug on the ground to keep them dry while sitting.
Kathy Dowler said they all went to the rodeo Friday night.
"It was pretty interesting," she said. "We've never been to one before so we thought we would go. The barrel racing was really good."
Alayna Byrd said she liked the rodeo clown and thought he was funny. Her favorite part of Belpre Homecoming, though, is "the candy," she said.
The three watched the parade floats and vehicles pass by and Alayna Byrd ran to get candy that was thrown for most of the parade. Toward the end of the parade, she had a bag full of candy and even a couple of frisbees and toy balls.
Parkersburg resident Katie Sprouse brought five children with her to the Belpre Homecoming on Saturday - her three children, her best friend's child and a child she babysits.
She said they were at the fishing derby and they heard the sirens so they came to see the parade.
Sprouse's daughter Harper Sprouse, 1, was having fun splashing in puddles Saturday morning and she and the rest of the children watched the parade.
"We come every year," Katie Sprouse said. "I like that it's really family friendly. Everyone loves the kids running around and everyone looks out for them."
There were other events and activities Saturday at the Belpre Homecoming besides the derby and parade, including the Belpre Mile Race, a puppy pageant, a kiddie pedal pull, music, a princess meet and greet, the Teen and Miss Belpre Pageants and more.
Saturday night ended with a fireworks show at 10 p.m. and a meet and greet with Season 17 winner of "The Voice" Jake Hoot at 10:30 p.m.
Festivities ended Sunday with a church service in the morning and a BFC Motorcycle Show in the afternoon. Tribe of Benjamin and The Clark Family entertained on the main stage to close things out.
Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com