Richland’s Homecoming planned for July 5-7

RICHLAND – The Richland Community Club is putting on Richland’s Homecoming July 5-7, an event that happens once every five years.

The celebration is an opportunity for former residents to come back home and reconnect with their roots. Korwin Hinshaw, president of the Richland Community Club, said the event began in 1909 and the only time it was not held was during World War II.

“The city fathers really thought this out, because if you do one every year, people won’t come back, but they will come back if you do it every five years,” Hinshaw said.

Hinshaw will deliver a welcome to kick off the event at 4 p.m. that Friday, July 5. That was originally scheduled to be in Alumni Park, though Hinshaw said it will likely be moved to Central Park for better shade. At 4:15 p.m., Mark Hendrickson will deliver the response. Hendrickson coached football at Western Illinois University, and comes from the same family as former Iowa Hawkeyes George Kittle and Jeff Settles.

Saturday morning will feature the Frogtown Fun Run at 8 a.m. from Mother Cabrini Catholic Church. From 6:30-9:30 a.m., the Pekin FFA and Richland Women’s Club will serve breakfast at the church. Hinshaw said Richland residents have kept alive the tradition of calling the city “Frogtown” because that was the town’s original name when it was founded in 1838. It was called “Frogtown” for the first three years until it was officially incorporated in 1841, and its name was changed to Richland.

“It was called Frogtown because there was a frog pond in Central Park,” Hinshaw said.

Hinshaw said the weekend has “entertainment on top of entertainment,” and it’s all free thanks to local business sponsorships.

“We just want people to come and celebrate Richland, and to come grow with us, because we feel like we’re growing and not standing still,” he said.

Richland Community Club member Jeannie Pedrick said it’s great to see so many people get involved with the event.

“An eighth-grade class from Pekin will be doing a fundraiser in the park that Friday night, and will be selling food out of the concession stand,” she said.

Pedrick said she hopes the public will enjoy the Absolute Science Foam Cannons from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, plus the Absolute Science Magic Show at 2 p.m. Saturday followed by the Absolute Science Bubble Tables at 3 p.m.

“These foam cannons are fun for the whole family. They play music and light up,” Pedrick said. “It’s quite a neat thing, and sometimes they have to close a whole street in town to do this event.”

Pedrick said that 10 vendors have signed up to sell merchandise, and four vendors have signed up to sell food. On Saturday night, JBS and Jefferson County Pork Producers will offer a loin dinner at 6 p.m.

Pedrick said another event she’s looking forward to is the parrot show at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

“A lady is coming with 13 birds to dance and sing, and they can interact with people in the crowd,” she said. “We have a strolling magician named Danny Magic who will come Friday and he’ll be there throughout the day Saturday, too,”

One of the biggest draws of Homecoming is the Saturday morning parade, which begins with the Kiddie Parade at 10 a.m. at the Methodist Church, followed by the main parade at 10:30 a.m. from Alumni Park. Pedrick said in years past, the parade has lasted 1.5 hours. There is a float contest with prizes for different categories.

On Saturday afternoon, an alumni tea will be held in the Methodist Church at 2 p.m. Pedrick said this is likely going to be the final alumni tea, since the last class to graduate from Richland High School did so in the early 1960s, and fewer and fewer people are able to come back each Homecoming.

Pedrick said she’s looking forward to bingo at the fire station at 2 p.m. Saturday, where nearly $900 in prizes will be given away. The Cookie and Pie Contest will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, where participants will be judged on their two dozen cookies, or two fruit pies. Leftover cookies and pies will be served with the pork loin meal that evening.

EVENT LIST

Friday, July 5

4 p.m. Welcome – Korwin Hinshaw

4:15 p.m. Response – Mark Hendrickson

5-7 p.m. Absolute Science Foam Cannons

5:30 p.m. Parrot Show

7 p.m. – Band: The Blondies

9:30 p.m. Flashing Thunder Fireworks

Saturday, July 6

6:30-9:30 p.m. Pekin FFA/Richland Women’s Club breakfast at Catholic Church

7 a.m. Frogtown Run/Walk sign up

8 a.m. Frogtown Run/Walk begins

8 a.m. Parade sign up in Alumni Park

8 p.m. Cookie/Pie drop off at Outfield

9 a.m. Cookie/Pie judging begins

10 a.m. Kiddie Parade at Methodist Church

10:30 a.m. Big Parade from Alumni Park

Noon: Adam Whitehead performs on bandstand

Noon: Kiddie Tractor Pull at fire station

Noon: Water fights at fire station

2 p.m. Bingo at fire station

2 p.m. Alumni tea at Methodist Church

2 p.m. Absolute Science Magic Show at bandstand

3 p.m. Absolute Science Bubble Tables at SE Corner of Square

3:30 p.m. Going Places, on stage at SE Corner of Square

4 p.m. Walk-Thru of new daycare facility

6 p.m. Steve McLain and Eric Hurlin perform on bandstand

6 p.m. Loin Dinner

8 p.m. Richland Community Club Auction, Cookie/Pie and 50/50 raffle winners announced on bandstand

9 p.m. Gator Band performs on stage at SE Corner of Square

All day activities: Danny Magic, food/drink vendors, crazy train rides, blow up slide, face painting, Jefferson County Conservation activities, Keokuk County Extension and Jefferson County Extension activities, 50/50 raffle, tractor show

Sunday, July 7

10 a.m. Church service at Hinshaw Shelter

11:30 a.m. Lunch at fire station

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com

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