Homecomers Celebration makes return visit to Jackson this week

Expect some changes at this year's Jackson Homecomers Celebration.

For its 106th run, the event won't feature a talent show or Homecomers queen, director of entertainment Linda Penzel has announced.

However, the celebration will continue with new entertainment and a brand- new event. Penzel said the changes were because of lack of participation. So instead, on Tuesday night, coordinators scheduled a vintage ladies fashion show to replace the talent show.

The event will run from Tuesday through Saturday. The celebration will open with remarks by Mayor Barb Lohr and music by the Jackson Municipal Band at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Every night from 6 to 6:30 p.m., trivia questions will be announced to visitors, with a prize awarded. Tuesday night, the trivia contest will take place after the opening ceremony.

The fashion show will be 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Penzel said. A panel of four or five people will judge ladies' gowns and award cash prizes.

The clothing will vary from prairie dresses to wedding gowns, and the women chosen to participate will all represent a parish, organization or foundation, Penzel said. Whichever woman wins the competition has agreed to donate the prize money back to her foundation.

The amounts of the prize money and the judging criteria will be solidified at a meeting tonight, Penzel said.

The fifth annual Senior Idol Contest will be held as normal Wednesday. All seniors age 55 or older are invited to compete, and prizes will be given along with the People's Choice Award. The gospel singing event also will be Wednesday evening, but will be expanded to include more than just religious musical groups.

Thursday night after the trivia contest, the bands Manitou and The Living Stones will perform.

Friday night is also a night of music with The BitterSweet Band and Old School Hype playing live music.

Saturday night, the Senior Idols will perform and J Edwards from Nashville, Tennessee, will be the closer for the celebration. At 10 p.m., an American Legion representative will draw the grand prizewinner for the last attendance prize.

In case of rain, the shows will move to the American Legion hall.

Penzel called this festival "a time for friends and family to get together and be a hometown celebration," and with 12,000 to 15,000 people expected to attend, it surely will be.

All proceeds will go back to the sponsor of the event, the American Legion.

smaue@semissourian.com

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