A grand Mount Pulaski 2021 Fall Festival

[September 16, 2021]   LINCOLN - Mount Pulaski kicked off the 2021 Fall Festival on Friday evening with speeches on the courthouse lawn by Katie Alsup and Hillary Cherry of the Hilltop Club, Mayor Matt Bobell, and Senator Sally Turner.

Senator Turner asked the crowd gathered to observe a moment of silence in honor of the victims of 9-11.

Alsup surprised Phyllis Beccue by announcing her as the 2021 Fall Festival Parade Grand Marshall. Beccue was an educator in the Mount Pulaski School District for 32 years and she has served as a leader of the American Legion Auxiliary. Beccue is also a business leader in the community and has been one of the owners and operators of Salt Creek Attic for 17 years. She also had a vision for Christmas on Vinegar Hill 30 years ago and the event still runs yearly with great success. She has always been dedicated to the veterans of this community by taking care of the Veterans Memorial at the Mount Pulaski Cemetery. Most recently she was responsible for organizing the flags that hang around town proudly displaying the community’s veterans. Beccue was very deserving of this honor and she was overcome with emotion at the announcement.

Hillary Cherry honored Tom Martin with the Community Leader Award. Martin’s list of accomplishments in the community is long. As a life-long farmer in rural Mount Pulaski, Martin serves on several boards throughout Illinois. Martin was also involved in Looking for Lincoln and the Mount Pulaski 175th Celebration. Martin was a primary organizer in Market on the Hill, the current grocery store that serves the community. He was also a founding member of the Mount Pulaski Economic, Development and Planning Board. Martin has dedicated his time and efforts to giving back to the community and this is a well-deserved honor.

Alsup also presented Michelle Hagenbuch with the Community Volunteer Award. Hagenbuch runs a busy and successful daycare in the community and still finds time to volunteer at her church, school and in the community. She is also responsible for organizing Second Friday in Mount Pulaski as well as helping with the Fall Festival Committee. She works tirelessly to make the community a better place for everyone. Hagenbuch fits the definition of a true volunteer.

The daycare kids of Moochelle’s Daycare, which Hagenbuch runs with her husband, Randy, gathered on the courthouse steps to sing the National Anthem.

With the festival kicking off on such a beautiful Friday evening, several little girls gathered early on the courthouse lawn to enjoy a Princess Picnic. Meanwhile down on Washington Street in front of the courthouse, the kiddie tractor pull was taking place. The participants of the tractor pull were given free t-shirts, which proved to be a hit. Bounce houses and a petting zoo also kept the kids entertained all evening long.

Saturday was a busy day with an early morning bike/run up and down the hill on Cooke Street. The Soap Box Derby made its return to the Fall Festival with drivers racing down Washington Street. A tractor show highlighted Saturday afternoon just ahead of the 4 p.m. parade. The parade was full of tractors, semis, jeeps, side by sides, floats, fire trucks, police cars, emergency response vehicles, politicians, kids and even a clown.

Craft vendors and food trucks filled the square and everyone could be seen walking around with a corn dog or a bag of donuts or pulled pork nachos, just to name a few of the delicious food items.

The food tent also saw a steady stream of patrons who enjoyed sitting and chatting with their neighbors while eating.

A highlight of Saturday night was the Dueling Pianos. The one man and one woman show was thoroughly enjoyed by the crowd.

Lastly, it was the Hilltop Club Beer Tent closing out the festival with cold beverages and entertainment both nights. The Devin Clemons Band entertained the crowd Friday night and DJ Woody turned up the music on Saturday night.

All in all, with beautiful weather it was a marvelous weekend for kids and adults alike.

[Teena Lowery]