Fireworks at homecoming to be dedicated to Harold Howell
WEST LAFAYETTE – For the second consecutive year, NE Ohio Pyros will have a fireworks show at the West Lafayette Homecoming on Saturday night, July 28. This year, the show will be dedicated in memory of Harold Howell who recently passed away.
“He was big on the fireworks last year,” said Oren Griffith, president of the West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. “He was so excited. He gets to watch them from the top down this year instead of the bottom up. I’m really going to miss him. He was a great friend.”
The fireworks will be held Saturday evening from 10 – 10:30 p.m. The 71st annual West Lafayette Homecoming will start on Thursday, July 26 at 5 p.m. and the theme this year is “Wild, Wild West”.
“Last year, we didn’t have that many horses in the parade,” said Griffith. “We thought that this year, we could get more horses in the parade with a wild, wild west theme, and so far, I think it seems to be working.”
The festival begins at 5 p.m. at Burt Park. The food stand will be open with a limited menu, and the ever-popular queen contest begins at 6 p.m. with Jody Seibert as master of ceremonies. By the end of the night, a new queen, junior queen, mini queen, junior miss, little miss, little mister, and senior queen will be crowned.
Due to the ride company backing out at the end of May, the festival will not feature carnival rides this year. However, they will have four bounce houses set up, one specifically for children ages 1 – 4. The other bounce houses will feature a small obstacle course and a slide.
“Something new this year will be the farmers market from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at Burt Park,” said Griffith. “We’ve never had that here before during the festival.”
Although the festival will not feature rides this year, it will definitely not lack in entertainment.
“A lot of people sponsor the fireworks and Tracy Wyler from Dari Hut is sponsoring the Dotson Brothers Band,” said Griffith. “That really helps us a lot because each of the bands charges money to perform. People have been just awesome. Local people have given to the fireworks and people donated toward the entertainment. We send out a letter every year asking for donations and they just give. We thank God they do because we couldn’t do this without them.”
Planning the festival each year is a lot of hard work and takes the dedication of many volunteers on the chamber. Usually, they start planning for next year’s festival in November or December.
“It’s worth it,” said Griffith. “It’s a lot of hard work, but we get as much enjoyment out of it as anybody else. It’s just a good time. People can come and meet with each other and let their hair down. There’s something here for the kids and for the parents.”
Griffith has a lot of good memories of coming to the festival over the years and hopes that other residents in the community do as well.
“I remember when I was a little boy, they used to sell automobiles, brand new cars,” said Griffith. “I think it was always a Chrysler product. They would raise enough money to buy a new car from a local dealer and then raffle it off. Tons and tons of people used to be over there when they raffled that car off. I just thought that was the greatest thing.”
See below for a complete schedule of events:
Thursday, July 26
5 – 9:30 p.m.: Eat Stand Opens – Limited Menu
6 p.m.: Queen Contest Held in Burt Park
Jody Seibert – Master of Ceremonies
RD Promotions Providing Entertainment
Friday, July 27
5 – 9:30 p.m.: Eat Stand Opens – Full Menu
6 p.m.: Parade Line-Up Begins – Contact Ed at 740-545-6696
Corn Roast – FFA Alumni
7 p.m.: 71st Annual Homecoming Festival Parade
5 – 9 p.m.: Bounce N Around – Tickets Sold at Headquarters Stand
8 p.m.: Mayor’s Welcome – Main Stage
Merchandise and 50/50 Ticket Sales – Headquarters Stand
2018 Queens and Visiting Queens – Main Stage
Mouse Game – Lions Club
Kid’s Merchandise – Bust a Balloon in Midway
8:30 – 10:30 p.m.: The Trains – Main Stage
10:30 p.m.: Merchandise and 50/50 Ticket Drawing – Headquarters Stand
Saturday, July 28
8 a.m.: Lafayette Pointe 5-K Run/Walk
8 – 10 a.m.: All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast – Eat Stand
9 – 10 a.m.: AMA RC Fun Fly Show – Football Field
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Mega Music DJ Service Providing Music with Tyler Bradford
9 a.m.: Miss Jodi’s Dancers – Front of Bandstand
10 a.m.: Headquarters Stand Opens
Flip ‘N Out Gymnastics – Front of Bandstand
Home Run Derby by RW Rec – Ballfields Behind High School
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Pet Parade – Burt Park – Coshocton County Humane Society
County County K-9 Unit
12 p.m.: Storytime – West Lafayette Branch Library – Burt Park
Eat Stand Opens – Full Menu
12:30 – 1 p.m.: Peddle Tractor Sign-Up – Rotary Shelter
12:30 – 4 p.m.: Farmer’s Market – Burt Park Area
1 p.m.: Peddle Tractor Pull by RHS Young Farmers – Rotary Shelter
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Orange and Black Get Fit – Front of Bandstand
4 p.m.: Chicken Dinner – Eat Stand
4 – 9 p.m.: Bounce N Around – Tickets Sold at Headquarters Stand
5 – 7 p.m.: Dotson Brother’s Band – Sponsored by Wyler’s Dari-Hut
7 – 8 p.m.: New Towne Cloggers – Front of Bandstand
The Ohio Little Rock Band – Bandstand
Boots and Buckles will Perform thru Evening
10 p.m.: Fireworks – NE Ohio Pyros
10:30 p.m.: Merchandise and 50/50 Ticket Drawing – Headquarters Stand
Bust a Balloon in the Midway to get Kids Merchandise
Sponsored by the West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
Category: People & Places
