ANNA – The 2018 Anna Homecoming festival — planned for June 15-16 — will feature new activities such as a dodgeball tournament for younger people and craft beer selections for those over 21. Visitors will also be able to enjoy past favorites like the hog roast, bingo, craft sales, a parade and Queen Pageant.
Kelly Billing, Anna Civic Association president, said their organization wanted more activities for the kids and so are hosting a new dodgeball tournament for youngsters in grades 4 to 6, 7 to 8 and 9 to 12 on Saturday. Registration forms can be found online at the Civic association website http://www.annahomecoming.com/dodgeball/
The craft beer option is also new this year. Micro-breweries Moeller Brew Barn of Maria Stein, Tailspin of Coldwater, and Warped Wing of Dayton will offer samplers. Also on sale is domestic beer and other beverages.
Another new event on Friday is an antique car cruise-in, which replaces an earlier car show. It will be in the north parking lot of Anna Elementary school.
A Kids Tractor Pull, organized by Buckeye State Pedal Pullers, will be held for various age groups on Saturday. The top winner in each age group will be qualified to compete at the Ohio State Fair Kid Tractor Pulls.
The Hog Roasters of Rumley volunteer group will be selling hand-pulled pork roasted on site as part of the food sales. “They are out there at 6 a.m. Friday morning starting to roast the whole hog,” said Billing.
The Queen Pageant is themed “Hollywood.” It will be held at the Anna Elementary School on Friday, June 16, starting at 7 p.m. The five young women competing are:
• Olivia Pulfer, daughter of Scott and Dawn Pulfer, escorted by Isaiah Pleiman, son of Betsy Martin and Dan Pleiman. Her talent will be a dance routine. Her sponsor is Bliss and Bloom.
• Lauren Stephens, daughter of Ed and Teresa Stephens, escorted by Luke Cantrell, son of Rick and Jodi Cantrell. Her talent will be singing. Her sponsor is Rachel’s Cakes.
• Claire Bensman, daughter of Dan and Lori Bensman, escorted by Jarred Seigle, son of Jim and Amanda Seigle. Her talent will be singing. Her sponsor is Crale Builders.
• Hannah Shoemaker, daughter of Bill and Sherry Shoemaker, escorted by Alex Bruggeman, son of Brent and Stacey Bruggeman. Her talent will be a dance routine. Her sponsor is Trackside Treats.
• Molly Batchelder, daughter of Adam and Kristy Batchelder, escorted by Jake Kovacs, son of Kenny and Beth Kovacs. Her talent is singing plus ASL (American Sign Language). Her sponsor is Temperance Lodge 73 Free & Accepted Masons.
As part of the queen pageant, two elementary school children were selected to be junior royalty. They are Princess Claire Poppe, daughter of Matt and Stacey Poppe, and Prince Luke Schulze, son of Brian and Kay Schulze.
The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 16. The grand marshall is Tim Bender, Anna fire chief. The parade will start on the corner of Main and First Streets, travel east on Main Street, make a left on Pike Street (County Road 25A).
Music for Friday will be Swagg. Saturday evening music includes Kevin and The Others followed by My Sister Sarah.
Other attractions include the Rumbling Rocket 5K race, cake wheel, face painting, an adult wiffle ball tournament and children’s rides.
A complete list of activities can be found at http://www.annahomecoming.com/schedule/.
