MASON CITY, Neb.— Mason City is celebrating 140 years of community pride this weekend at their annual Homecoming, which runs Friday through Sunday with the theme “Life on the Wild Side”.
The three day celebration combines longtime traditions with several newer attractions, offering everything from hometown meals, parades, and children’s games to goat roping, bull riding, and a free concert.
Organizers that spoke to KCNI/KBBN on Friday morning said the goal is an affordable weekend so that families and friends can gather, make memories, and celebrate their community.
The festivities begin Friday evening with the annual hometown meal from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring homemade chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, salads and desserts served by the Mason City Community Service Club. An ice cream social follows at 6 p.m., before children’s games, turtle races, the popular best dressed farm animal contest and the longtime cake walk get underway.
Farrah Rosentreader said organizers decided to return many of those activities to Main Street after trying a different location last year.
“All of those kid games are going to take place here on Main Street, like they’ve done for years and years,” said Rosentreader. “The cake walk is a tradition that’s been here for years, probably a hundred years.”
Friday night’s action shifts to Glenn Burns Ballfield, where registration begins at 6 p.m. for both the cornhole tournament and goat roping before competition starts at 7 p.m. Chicken Pie Bingo will round out the evening.
Kevin Racicky said the goat roping event has grown into one of Homecoming’s biggest attractions since it was introduced three years ago. He noted competitors now travel from several states to participate, with last year’s winning team making the trip from Kansas.
Saturday begins with the annual 5K Fun Run at 8 a.m., followed by the Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m. featuring this year’s “Life on the Wild Side” theme.
A Fireman’s Barbecue will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the annual tractor pull at 1 p.m. and the alumni meeting at the Community Building beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday evening introduces one of the weekend’s newest attractions as Double Down Rodeo Company brings the Bull Bash to Mason City. Mutton busting begins before the featured bull riding event at Glenn Burns Ballfield.
The American Legion will serve a meal beginning at 5 p.m. to raise funds for the community’s Veterans Memorial Wall project before country band Whiskey Bent takes the stage for a free concert from 8 p.m. until midnight. A late night biscuits and gravy breakfast will also be served following the concert.
“We make a point to try to make it family friendly,” Rosentreader said. “We’re trying to bring people in and not rob you at the same time.”
Sunday concludes the celebration with Community Church in the Park at 10 a.m., followed by coffee, donuts and fellowship. A horseshoe tournament begins at 1 p.m. at Railroad Park before the weekend wraps up with a family movie night at First Baptist Church at 6:30 p.m.
Throughout the weekend, the American Legion will also sell raffle tickets for a split the pot drawing and two handmade quilts, with proceeds supporting the Veterans Memorial Wall project.
In addition to celebrating Mason City’s past, this year’s Homecoming also showcases recent improvements to the community. Volunteers recently completed new restrooms at the Community Building, while new tables and chairs purchased through grant funding will make their public debut during the festivities. Donation boxes will also be available throughout the weekend to support future improvements to the Community Building.
A complete schedule of events is available through the Mason City Community Service Club Facebook page.
View our full conversation with Farrah, Donna Hoblyn-Bittner, and Kevin here:
