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PARKERSBURG -- The Parkersburg Homecoming Committee has taken the 36th annual weekend event back to its roots in a number of ways.
The committee announced its lineup and contests Wednesday afternoon with some of its anchor events like the Rubber Ducky Derby, Music Showcase, Grand Parade and the Johnny Staats Bluegrass Festival.
The festival will have a new look as far as the musical entertainment.
"The theme for the homecoming is 'Bringing it Home,'" said Lipps. "To try to get the most bang for the buck, we're going to have The Davisson Brothers Band from Fairmont to open things up Friday night and Saturday will be an evening of tribute bands as will Sunday.
"The cost of the nationally known entertainment continues to rise," he said. "It just gets harder every year."
The list of tribute bands includes Broken Road (Rascal Flatts), 52nd Street (Billy Joel) and Captain Fantastic (Elton John) at the Main Stage Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m. with the Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd) at the Point Park Amphitheater.
Hotel California (Eagles) closes the entertainment Sunday night.
"We reviewed the groups from YouTube," said Committee President Michael Cottrell. "These bands are phenomenal. We put in the time and did our homework before we scheduled them. No, it's not the originals but we think people will be pleased with the entertainment. It's a different approach from what has been done in the past."
Lipps said Dark Side of the Moon will have "a new twist than what people are used to seeing at the point. Dark Side of the Moon will have a laser light show which will encompass about the entire venue," he said. "Parkersburg has not seen anything like this before."
Cottrell said the main stage will be moved back to the spot it occupied for years by the Little Kanawha River floodwall. The stage was moved last year, but Cottrell said the decision was made to move the stage back after last year's move was not accepted well by the general public.
The power boat races will not happen in August.
"That is a definite," Cottrell said. "The power boats event is off. We're going to try again in 2019 but it was an obstacle which could not be cleared."
Main Stage
Entertainment
Friday, Aug. 17
6 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies
6:30 p.m.: Actors Guild Idol
7:30 p.m.: Mike Morningstar
8:15 p.m.: Stallion
9:30 p.m.: The Davisson Brothers Band
Saturday, Aug. 18
6 p.m.: The Thorny Flat Mountain Boys
7 p.m.: Broken Roads – Salute to Rascal Flatts
8 p.m.: 52nd Street – The Music of Billy Joel
9 p.m.: Captain Fantastic – The Magic of Elton John
10 p.m.: Fireworks on the Ohio River
Sunday, Aug. 19
6: p.m.: Gong Show
7:30 p.m.: Hotel California – The Original Eagles Tribute Band
Complete list of entertainment appears on our web site,
mariettatimes.com
Bicentennial Park Stage
(Near Parkersburg City Building)
Saturday, Aug. 18
2 p.m.: Jessica Lynch public signing
2:30 p.m.: To Be Announced (TBA)
3 p.m.: Dog Show sponsored by Winding Road Kennel
4:30 p.m.: TBA
5 p.m.: Karaoke
Sunday, Aug. 19
17th annual Johnny Staats Bluegrass Festival
1 p.m.: Robin and Dan Kessinger
2:15 p.m.: Bobby Taylor and Andrew Dunlap
3:30 p.m.: Johnny Staats & The Delivery Boys
5:15 p.m.: Actors Guild Presentation
Riverfront Park Amphitheater
Friday, Aug. 17
6-11 p.m.: Music Showcase
Saturday, Aug. 18
6 p.m.: Mending Wall
8:30 p.m.: Dark Side of the Moon – The Pink Floyd Concert Experience
10 p.m.: Fireworks on the Ohio River
Sunday, Aug. 19
TBA
Other events include:
Kids coloring contest Friday-Sunday at Vendors Row
Friday, Aug. 17
4-8 p.m.: Pioneer Antique Auto Club Car Show
Saturday, Aug. 18
8 a.m.: Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon
10 a.m.- 4 p.m.: Model Railroad Club Open House
Noon: Grand Parade with Jessica Lynch as Grand Marshal
1:30 p.m.: Corn Hole Tournament
3:30 p.m.: APWA Wrestling on the River
Sunday, Aug. 19
TBA: Doughnut Eating Contest
TBA: Hot Dog Eating Contest
TBA: Soap Box Derby
6:30 p.m.: Rubber Ducky Derby.