Mapleton Annual Homecoming celebration this Saturday, Sunday

Tribune Staff Report

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MAPLETON -- The town of Mapleton will be bursting with activity this weekend. The 44th Annual Mapleton Homecoming celebration is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The theme this year is "On The Move -- Then and Now." Grand Marshall for the events this year will be Anna Mae Cobler, a former Mapleton community member.

Activities are set to begin on Saturday, with a garden tractor pull hosted by the Bourbon County Garden Tractor Pullers Association. All BCGTPA rules and regulations apply. Weigh in will begin at 5 p.m., the tractor pull will follow at 6 p.m. Concessions will be made available by the Mapleton Fire Department.

The second day of fun begins Sunday with coffee and donuts at 9 a.m. at the Mapleton Community Building, courtesy of the City of Mapleton. Those in attendance can reminisce at the community building from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with special guest Dale Dennis.

New to the celebration this year, Mapleton resident Buddy Roufs, along with friends, will be in attendance with their automobiles, both new and old, for a car show.

A community church service, directed by Mapleton Christian Church, will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will last until approximately noon. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Following the church service there will be a bouncy house and slide, from One-Two-Three Bounce, owned by Eddie and Jackie Hall, available for the kids' entertainment in the Mapleton park. The bounce house and slide will be free to all children in attendance, courtesy of The Mapleton C Store and Cafe, owned and operated by local residents Monique and George Danley.

Beginning at approximately 12:15 p.m., there will be a free will lunch at the Mapleton Community Building, served by members of the Mapleton Fire Department. The free will lunch will consist of smoked beef, homemade potato salad, bread, dessert and drink. The meat is courtesy of the Myrick Family and will be prepared by Marty Crystal, all of Mapleton.

There will be a children's parade, followed by the main parade, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Mapleton Methodist Church will be the organizers for the parade and prizes will be awarded.

Following the parade, the recognition program will begin at 2 p.m., with special music provided by the Mapleton Community Chorus. The annual recognition program includes recognitions for youngest and oldest person in attendance, couple in attendance married the longest, resident in attendance that has lived in the area the longest as well as who traveled the furthest to attend.

Turtle races will be held following the recognition, box turtles only please. Other games will begin at 3 p.m., including a nail driving contest for the adults. Games will be under the direction of the Mapleton Community of Christ Church.

The Mapleton Fire Department will also be holding a raffle, where the winner can choose to between a military bear or tractor throw blanket, both donated by Kay's Kreations, Mound City. To purchase raffle tickets, contact any Mapleton Fire Department member.

Mapleton City Mayor Mike Hueston expressed his appreciation for the continued support of the Mapleton Homecoming celebrations, which has allowed the 44-year-old tradition to continue.

"We thank everyone for attending, supporting and helping with the homecoming activities," Hueston said. "Past and present, those people have made our homecoming celebrations possible."

For more information on the weekend's activities, contact Hueston at (620) 224-7034.