Carbon Hill set for 69th Homecoming

By: 
STAFF REPORT

     It’s the time of year when motors propelling amusement rides, the call of bingo, the crack of bats and the boom of fireworks will resonate through the village of Carbon Hill.
    The tradition continues as the 69th annual Carbon Hill Homecoming celebration officially gets underway today, Wednesday, June 20.  The event opens at 6 p.m. with a ceremony recognizing the 2018 grand marshals Phil and Karin Kodat, who for decades have provided dedicated service to the village of Carbon Hill and its citizens.
    The five-day festival began in 1949 as a reunion of former mine workers and remains one of the most anticipated local events of the summer season, with thousands of festival goers flocking to the small town of 344 residents.
    Village officials and staff have been busy preparing for Homecoming which is held in the municipal park on Lacey Street between Third and Fifth streets. While the past week has been busy, the town’s Homecoming Committee has been setting the schedule for close to a year.
    As long-time village resident Jeff Veronda explains, Homecoming planning starts the day after Homecoming ends.
    Keeping with tradition, a carnival with rides, games and concessions that include corn dogs and lemon shakeups opens tonight and continues through Sunday.
    Bingo is another festival tradition and organizers have lined up a number of prizes that will be handed out to winners. The bingo stand opens each evening at 6 p.m., and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
    Sports have always been a highlight of the festival and what started as soccer tournments in the early days have transitioned to softball. On Monday the Josh Cumming Memorial Softball Tournament got underway. Games continue each evening through Sunday when the champion is crowned.
    No festival is complete without entertainment and this year, under the direction of village commissioner Chad Macaluso, the lineup has expanded to include a magician, clown, costumed characters and plenty of music.
    A band has been added to the Thursday night lineup and a bean bag tournament will be played in the park, a Tae Kwando demonstration will take place on Saturday afternoon and  Sunday is full of events for kids and adults a like.
    Homecoming organizers have also teamed up with the GFWC-IL Coal City Junior Womans Club for a craft show. Crafters will be lined up on the blacktop at the park entrance from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
    Parade lovers won’t want to miss this year’s parade that steps off Sunday at 1 p.m. and makes its way north on Seventh Street to Lacey and east to First Street. The Kodats will lead the parade that features marching bands, floats and plenty of tractors.
    Homecoming has been long known for its beer garden and food stand, traditions that continue. Operated by volunteers from the village and various organizations both places will be open through the close of the festival on Sunday night.
    The Carbon Hill Womans Club BBQ sandwiches, Coal City cafeteria turkey poor boys and hamburgers are on the menu, with a host of other treats including homemade pies baked by residents.
    Once again, the food stand will offer rib-eye steak sandwiches, but is for one night only, so if that sounds good head out to the park on Friday.
    A fireworks show will close out the  festival. The pyrotechnics are set to get underway around 9:30 p.m. Sunday on the softball field.
    Although there is a bit of rain in the forcast, tempratures for the five-day festival are expected to be in the 70s and 80s. Town officials are hoping for a forcast change that removes the threat of rain.
    The Carbon Hill Historical Society is also getting involved. The school museum, 875 N. Second St., will be open Sunday from noon to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. as it honors this year’s grand marshals.
    As it’s been from the beginning, the village relies on its residents to volunteer during the event from selling tickets to srpucing up the park.
    Funds generated from the festival are put into the village’s general fund to support town operations and special projects.

Restricted parking for Homecoming

    As Carbon Hill Homecoming gets underway, the public is being made aware parking restrictions will be in place due to the ongoing sanitary sewer project in the village.
    Town officials report some areas will be marked as no parking areas and they ask those attending the festival to observe the restrictions. Barricades and other measures of marking off areas should not be moved or removed.
    Handicap parking will be available at the village hall, 695 N. Holcomb, with shuttle service to the bingo stand. Those parking at village hall must have proper identification.