QULIN — Hundreds of community members attended Qulin’s 32nd annual Homecoming Festival on Saturday, Oct. 7. This year’s celebration saw the return of popular events and attention-grabbing new attractions.
The celebration kicked off with a parade led by grand marshal Barbara Lancaster-Nail, followed by recent beauty pageant winners and classic cars.
Before the parade, the opening ceremonies included an invocation by Alan Leutert and the Pledge of Allegiance by the pre-kindergarten class at Qulin Elementary. The national anthem was led by Daisey Lyod, a Twin Rivers High School student.
Qulin Homecoming director Carlee Decker said this year, the parade had a great turnout.
“I was so happy with it,” she said during an interview at the celebration.
Two major additions from past years were the dunking booth and the car show.
“We have had a line at the dunking booth since the festival started,” Decker said.
The car show near Qulin Elementary and Middle School proved to be another big hit with the crowd.
Tom Menley, a resident of Dexter, said that he brought his two hot rods to the car show because he was asked to.
“Most of these shows have some kind of benefit that they donate money to,” he said. “So if you can help people, that’s a good deal. And also if you can get a little interest from some of the younger people in something like this, besides something they should not be doing — that’s another added benefit.”
Menley said that he’s had his early model hot rod for 12 or 13 years. Slowly, he has added to his collection.
“I am a retired musician. I used to build custom motorcycles but the cars are a little bit safer,” he added.
Jerry Acord, also of Dexter, did not build his 1932 Ford Coupe but did know all of the details from the builder of the vehicle.
“The vehicle was built about 2008,” he said. “Mine is what I would probably call an early late 50s, early 60s design because of the wide tires.”
Acord added his vehicle is a fun little car to drive and he hoped people liked it. He pointed to Menley’s vehicle and explained both vehicles had been in Poplar Bluff for the Iron Horse Festival.
“Both of these vehicles received a lot of attention last weekend,” he smiled as he recalled the prior contest. “My hot rod won best in show for the street car division.”