|
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.
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.
[to top of second column] |
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] |
