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 Community Pride member Todd Cyrulik gave the opening remarks and
thanked the community for its support of the event. Cyrulik also
asked for a moment of silence for Rich Fulscher, a former Community
Pride member who recently passed away. Cyrulik noted that "Rich was
a part of the team that brought the fall festival back in the '80s."
Pastor Mark Weber of the Mount Pulaski Christian Church also spoke
on this September 11th evening and asked for a moment of silence and
prayers "for those whose lives will never be the same" after the
tragic events of that fateful day. "In times of tragedy communities
come together," Pastor Weber reminded everyone as he also spoke of
being very thankful for our freedom. This freedom allows members of
small communities like Mount Pulaski to gather and peacefully enjoy
the simple things in life.
 The Fall Festival is also an opportunity for parents and
grandparents to beam with pride as their little ones take the stage
in the children's pageants on opening night. The stage was filled
with contestants but only two got to take home a crown, while the
third was decorated with a bandana. Elyssa Marten was named Little
Miss Mount Pulaski while Josey Kiper was the Junior Miss Mount
Pulaski. Meanwhile little Ryder Collier, decked out in bibs and a
John Deere hat, took home the Cutest Li'l Farmer bandana around his
neck.
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The rest of Friday evening was spent with children happily bouncing
around in the inflatables, compliments of Basset's Mechanical of
Mount Pulaski, while the adults enjoyed the band Madd Hoss Jackson
in the Jaycees Beer Tent.
Saturday was a full morning of activities which included the INB 5K, the Zion
Lutheran Youth Fellowship and Evangelism 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, the
Jaycee's Kiddie Tractor Pull, a Bake-off and a Chili Cook-off.
The Community Pride parade kicked off afternoon activities and that was followed
by the Community Band Concert. The grade school and high school cheerleaders
also entertained the crowd with dance routines.
The evening highlights were the eating contests, which featured contestants
eating hot chicken wings, and hypnotist William Mitchell, who managed to put a
stage full of folks of all ages under hypnosis. The night wrapped up with Rob
Seibert hosting Win, Lose or Draw on the main stage and the band X-Crush closing
out the festival in the Jaycee's Beer Tent.
[Teena Lowery]
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