Dresden Homecoming kicks off Wednesday

By Jessica Johnston, Reporter

The Dresden Homecoming Association is hosting Dresden’s annual Homecoming which begins Wednesday evening and runs through Saturday.

The town’s homecoming was founded by a group of volunteers in 1932. The group disassembled and stopped hosting the festivities in 1941 due to the outbreak of World War II, Jeff Garver, the founder of the Dresden Homecoming Association, said. In 1947 the American Legion began to host the homecoming in hopes of raising money for injured veterans who had returned home. The American Legion hosted the homecoming events up until 2015 when memberships started to diminish.

Garver, a member of the American Legion, recruited three other legion members to form the Dresden Homecoming Association in 2015.

“I just couldn’t imagine the town without it (homecoming),” Garver said.

The association has been pleased with its homecoming turn out and is looking forward to seeing the people of Dresden and surrounding areas out for this year’s homecoming.

The festivities will begin Wednesday evening with the Grande Parade and run through Saturday evening. A list of events can be found below or on the Dresden Homecoming Association’s website.

The 2018 homecoming is a salute to first responders. The events will be held on Chestnut St. in the middle of town.

Weather permitting, all events will be held outside as scheduled. If there is severe weather, the association will cancel one or more nights of events.

Wednesday, June 20:

  • 5:30 p.m. — Parade Line-up (Tri-Valley Middle School)
  • 6:30 p.m. — Grande Parade (Main St. from TVMS South to 3rd St.)
  • After the parade — Introduction of the Queen and Court
  • Walhonding Rube Band and McKenzie Dailey and Company
  • 10:30 p.m. — Nightly Drawings

Thursday, June 21:

  • 6 p.m. — Introductions and Announcements
  • 6:30 p.m. — Fire Dancers
  • 8:30 p.m. — Jackson Street Ramblers
  • 10:30 p.m. — Nightly Drawings

Friday, June 22:

  • 6 p.m. — Introductions and Announcements
  • 6:30 p.m. — Y-City Barbershop Quartet
  • 9 p.m. — HB7 Band
  • 11 p.m. — Nightly Drawings

Saturday, June 23 (Kid’s Day):

  • 9:30 a.m. — Kiddie Parade Line-up (Dresden Branch Library parking lot)
  • 10 a.m. — Kiddie Parade (from the library to 7th St. to the stage)
  • After Kiddie Parade — Awards and Games
  • 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. — Rides Open
  • 1 p.m. Pie Baking Contest
  • 3:50 p.m. Duck Race (Dresden Swim Center)
  • 6 p.m. — Introductions and Announcements
  • 6:30 p.m. — Lou Bauer Square Dancing
  • 9 p.m. — San Antone Band
  • 11 p.m. — Nightly Drawings