Residents gather Saturday for 28th annual Qulin homecoming

QULIN — Pageants, a parade, contests, food and visiting with friends and neighbors will keep those attending the 28th annual Qulin Homecoming busy on Saturday.

Qulin City Clerk Melissa Berger explains while the main festival events will be Saturday, activities will kick off with beauty pageants for girls ages birth through 15 years old at 6 p.m. Friday, at the Qulin Middle School.

While registrations will be accepted at the door Friday night, preregistration will be appreciated, Berger said. Forms are available at city hall from 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Holly Johnson is in charge of the pageants and additional information may be obtained by calling her at 573-718-0192.

Berger suggests starting Saturday with an Early Bird Pancake Breakfast from 7-9 a.m. at the Qulin Nutrition Center.

The center’s thrift store also will be open.

Registration for the Kids Bake War and the Adult Cake War will be from 8:30-9 a.m. at the Qulin Lions Club Pavilion.

Youngsters may bake whatever they like — cookies, cupcakes, cakes — while adults must prepare cakes, Berger said. After the event, all the sweets will be donated to the Lions Club for dinner. For more information about the bake and cake wars call 573-429-0348.

The baking events will be sponsored by Ozark Federal Credit Union.

Parade lineup will begin at 9 a.m. at the former Qulin High School building.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. with the raising of the flag and the invocation by Pastor Gerald Berger. Emily Birchfield will sing the “National Anthem.” Broseley Head Start students will lead the Pledge of Allegiance with the parade starting immediately afterward, Berger said.

Jerry and Charlotte Bruce were selected by the Qulin Homecoming Committee to be grand marshals.

Cash prizes sponsored by the Qulin Lions Club for the best participants in the parade will be presented at noon on the stage.

Registration for the Cornhole Tournament will be from 10:30-11 a.m. at the Broseley Preschool and Daycare booth. Entry fee is $10. The event is sponsored by White Propane.

The Qulin Lions Club Fish and Fried Chicken Dinner will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 years old and under.

The Qulin Cemetery Cake Benefit Auction will begin at 11 a.m. and will include cakes, pies, cookies and candy at the west end of the pavilion.

Children’s games are sponsored by KH&T Concessions. The Cornhole Tournament is sponsored by White’s Propane and Morgan’s Pony Party is sponsored by White-Sanders Funeral Home.