Good weather greets Beverly-Waterford Homecoming
Annual celebration returns after COVID absence
Elliot Mayle, 1, of Malta, gains confidence at the petting zoo at the Beverly-Waterford Homecoming in Dodge Park on Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Hornbeck plays catch with Reid Jenks before kickoff of the Beverly Waterford homecoming parade Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Children reconnect with friends on rides at Dodge Park in Beverly during homecoming events Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Greyson Potts, 7, of Watertown, zips down a giant slide at Dodge Park in Beverly during homecoming festivities Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
All-Star cheerleaders share laughs during the Beverly-Waterford Homecoming Parade on Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Left to right: Riley Schweikert, Rachael Adams, Lilli Schilling, Brianna Offenberger, Kambree Hanson, Brelynn Schaad, Brantley Schaad and Bentley Chichester, drive the first golf cart for Lock 4 Coffee in the Beverly-Waterford homecoming parade Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Children wave to family from spinning teacups at the Beverly-Waterford homecoming in Dodge Park Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Elliot Mayle, 1, of Malta, gains confidence at the petting zoo at the Beverly-Waterford Homecoming in Dodge Park on Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Hornbeck plays catch with Reid Jenks before kickoff of the Beverly Waterford homecoming parade Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Children reconnect with friends on rides at Dodge Park in Beverly during homecoming events Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Greyson Potts, 7, of Watertown, zips down a giant slide at Dodge Park in Beverly during homecoming festivities Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
All-Star cheerleaders share laughs during the Beverly-Waterford Homecoming Parade on Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Left to right: Riley Schweikert, Rachael Adams, Lilli Schilling, Brianna Offenberger, Kambree Hanson, Brelynn Schaad, Brantley Schaad and Bentley Chichester, drive the first golf cart for Lock 4 Coffee in the Beverly-Waterford homecoming parade Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Children wave to family from spinning teacups at the Beverly-Waterford homecoming in Dodge Park Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
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BEVERLY -- With blue skies and temperate weather, squeals of laughter trailed from Waterford to Dodge Park in Beverly on Thursday for the kickoff of the American Legion's annual homecoming celebration.
"After last year, no parade and two years ago it poured on our parade, this weather is perfect, the booths are full, the bingo tables are full and there are kids again," smiled Steve Wainwright, grinning from ear to ear and still wearing the legion uniform in the park following the parade. "We have the best rides we've had in a long time, too."
"THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER," grinned Greyson Potts, 7, of Watertown, after excitedly zipping down a grand yellow slide at the park. "That's my yabba-dabba-doo face!"
In a non-election year, Wainwright pointed out, participation is generally lower in the parade itself.
"But just wait, all the politicians will be walking next year and it goes so much slower because they got to shake all the hands," he laughed as the parade was lining up.
His daughter, Katie Tucker, noted the event is one without many floats, but more welcoming of whoever wishes to walk and reconnect.
"Some of these folks you only see when they come home for homecoming, so it's been two years probably since I've seen some," she said as she set up the Waterford Commercial and Savings Bank float with Reid Jenkins sampling a sucker or two in the truck bed.
"But it's good to be back together, back to normal," added Washington County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Mark Warden as he drove the patrol car with granddaughter in tow into the front of the parade.
"This is our first time in the parade as a business," said Destiny Schaad, loading up two golf carts with family, staff and friends of the new coffee shop in Beverly, Lock 4 Coffee. "We basically wanted to come out and thank the community for all of their overwhelming support that they've given us."
Remaining events for homecoming:
Today
¯ 6 p.m.: Garden tractor pull; Rides.
¯ 7 p.m.: Red Dragon Martial Arts Performance.
¯ 7:30 p.m.: Musical entertainment by Steve and Beverly Pottmeyer.
¯ $100 cash raffle.
Saturday
¯ 4 p.m.: Tractor pull: King of the Asphalt.
¯ 6 p.m.: Rides.
¯ 7:30 p.m.: Musical entertainment by Sam Clark and The Dusty Boot Band.
¯ Raffle of prizes big and small.
Source: Beverly Waterford Homecoming committee.