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Monticello Homecoming is back! Monticello Community Club, The Village of Monticello, and the Monticello Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome you to our annual celebration, beginning on Friday evening, July 8th, and continuing throughout the weekend. We have many activities that you are welcome to come and watch, and even participate in!

ALL WEEKEND

The Carnival will begin on Friday with Wristband Special, $20, from 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (the only wristband special over the weekend). Like to watch sports? Both the Softball Tournament and the Mud Volleyball Tournament will begin on Friday evening and will continue throughout the weekend. To register your Mud Volleyball team ($100), contact Jacob Marty at (608) 558-5493. To register your softball team, contact Corey McGowan at (608) 214-9510.

You don't need to eat before you come in to Homecoming! The Lions Food Stand opens Friday at 4:00 p.m. Remember the brats, hot dogs, BBQs, and those luscious homemade pies, donated by community members? Yum – prepare to enjoy! Pie flavors change daily, so check often for your favorite before it is sold out. The Lions Club will be serving their famous homemade fried cheese curds (never frozen) and fresh fried mushrooms all weekend. The Boy Scouts will be on the grounds to serve you grilled sandwiches and more, and the MHS Sports Boosters with have their fresh squeezed ice cold lemonade. You won't go hungry at the ball diamond either, as MHS Sports Boosters will be providing snacks and more with cold beverages.

FRIDAY

Friday night, why cook? Get your dinner at the Fish Boil at the Octagon Shelter, near the lake. The FFA and FFA Alumni are serving. Dinners begin at 5:00 p.m. and go to 7:30 p.m. This is the traditional fish boil with boiled potatoes, onions, and fish – and plenty of melted butter. Carry-outs are available. $12 in advance for adult dinner or $14 at door. Kids under 6 are free. You can get your tickets in advance at Greenwoods State Bank, Gempeler's Supermarket, Shawnas Bar and Grill and Kubly's Service Station.

Rock Rebel Junction is playing Friday night from 8:00 p.m. to midnight at the main beer tent. No admission charge.

SATURDAY

Join us on Saturday, July 9th, for Monticello PTO's Pony Trot 5K Run/Walk and Little Pony 1K. The Little Pony 1K begins at 8:00 a.m., and the 5K Fun Run/Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. Register by June 25th to guarantee a t-shirt. Registration information is on the Monticello School District main page at https://www.monticello.k12.wi.us. An adult registered before June 25th is $25, after is $30. All kids 18 and under are $15 (any race). Day of race registration begins at 7:30 a.m., at the elementary school playground. Monticello PTO is an organization of parents, current teachers, and retired teachers who support the students and staff of Monticello Schools. Every year, the PTO uses its funds to make multiple contributions to the school in the form of teacher grants for classroom activities, senior scholarships, student supplies, playground equipment and various other initiatives.

On Saturday, Mud Volleyball and Softball Tournaments continue from Friday night and Grass Volleyball and 3-on-3 Basketball are running all day Saturday. Sign up is in advance by contacting the coordinator. Coordinators: Grass Volleyball ($60) is Dave Stoerp at (608) 289-4170. Basketball ($75) is Jacob Marty at (608) 558-5493.

Kids – In the past, the kids have had so much fun, we're doing it again - the FREE Kids Pedal Tractor Pull. Registration is at 9:30 a.m., at W. North Avenue, in front of Monticello Pool House. For ages 3-10, four age classes, and trophies! The competition begins at 10:00 a.m. No pre-registration necessary. Kids participating will receive a coupon for our local Homecoming food vendors for participating! Thank you to our local sponsors.

The Monticello Area Museum will be open Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Take a look at an old drug store and a glimpse into the businesses in the early days of Monticello. A special feature includes the many architectural influences of the Steinman brothers. Admission is free. They will have the popcorn machine running.

Back this year is Tug of War, brought to us by the US Amateur Tug of War Association. Teams from three states will compete in several weight classes and the competition will include Men's, Women's and Co-ed teams. Pulling starts at 12:30 p.m., and will run throughout the afternoon.

The Monticello Public Library is sponsoring a tent along the park sidewalk from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., featuring Family Art and STEM projects with a variety of materials. Check them out.

From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Zwingli UCC is offering a BBQ Sandwich meal in the Octagon Shelter by the Lake Montesian. $10 for a Smoked BBQ Sandwich, chips, and a drink.

Don't forget the canoe races around Lake Montesian. You can register at the lake at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday. Races will begin at 2:00 p.m. Teams will consist of seniors over 55; adult males 17 & older; adult females 17 & older; co-ed, and children (you must be at least 12). There is no fee to enter and cash prizes are awarded, sponsored by the Monticello Community Club. Following is the "triathlon"...a fun-based relay race. The team divisions are the same as the canoe races. Both events are as fun to watch as they are to participate in!

From 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the main beer tent, Two Country Lines will entertain, sponsored by Monticello Community Club.

Zwingli Brotherhood is proud to feature Tai Kuhnz, Wisconsin's most Unlikely Magician, at 7:00 p.m., on Saturday, July 9th, at Zwingli UCC, 416 E. Lake Avenue. Tai will be performing magic like you've never experienced before, some comedy, a little bewilderment, and a lot of confusion (People's Choice Winner at Houdini Convention 2019).

At the beer stand from 8:00 p.m. until midnight, there will again be live music, Union Road (no cover charge, of course), with at break at about 9:45 p.m., for the FIREWORKS!! The fireworks are set off at Lake Montesian and can be viewed from several locations. A special thank you to the fireworks sponsors, the Monticello Community Club and Greenwoods State Bank. Rain delay will be Sunday at 9:45 p.m.

SUNDAY

A Community Church Service will begin at 9:30 a.m., at Montesian Gardens, led by Washington Reformation UCC with UCC Zwingli. Please bring your lawn chairs. We will meet in the shade and closer to the ball diamonds than other years. While you are there, take a little extra time to enjoy the beautiful gardens, tended to by community volunteers.

Following the church service, you should definitely plan on lunch at the Chicken Barbecue sponsored by Monticello Community Club. The group is serving half chicken dinners for $12 or just chicken for $8. Serving will begin at 11:00 a.m., at the Octagon Shelter. Carry-outs are available. Delivery service is also available for senior citizens, handicapped or disabled persons (within the Village limits), who don't have anyone to come pick up their chicken. Contact Carol at (608) 938-4993 before 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 9th, to order delivery and please leave a message.

The parade will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 10th, at the east end of Lake Avenue and will proceed through to the north end of Main Street. Parade entries and monetary donations, to help sponsor some of the unique entries, are still being accepted. If you are interested in participating or sponsoring a parade entry, contact Kay Freitag at (608) 938-1133.

Questions can be answered at monticellohome comingparade@gmail.com. There is always room for more participants – floats are fun and you can let your inner clown shine through! And we could sure use your sponsorship.

The Mud Volleyball Tournament continues from Saturday, as well as the Softball Tournament. Both fun to watch and cheer on your favorites – and the champions will be decided on Sunday.

Again this year, the Bean Bag Competition will be held at the ball diamond area at approximately 3:00 p.m. (after the parade ends). $20 per co-ed 2-person team ($10/person), single elimination, 32 teams. Registration is day of. For questions, contact Andrew Anderson at (608) 279-1430.

Sunday afternoon and evening music lineup: At the main beer stand, after the parade, about 3:00 p.m., The Zweifel Brothers will be performing until 6:00 p.m. They are sponsored by Voegeli Chevrolet and Monticello Ford. Then, River Rockers will play from 7:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m., sponsored by the Monticello Community Club. Hang out for good fun and conversation until the raffle drawing at 9:00 p.m. Remember - no entry fee for any entertainment at the beer stand – all weekend long.

Don't forget to purchase your raffle chance at cold cash ($500, $300, $100, $75, $50 and $50), a Titleist Golf Bag (valued at $250), a Case of Beer every Month for a Year (valued at $240), a Mike's Cooler (valued at $150), and 4 Brewers Tickets for the July 22nd game (valued at $100). Raffle tickets are $5.00 for a book of 6 or $1.00 each, and can be purchased now at Monticello businesses or from any member of the Monticello Community Club. During Homecoming, tickets are available at the beer stand. Proceeds always go back into our Monticello community. The raffle drawing will be held at 9:00 p.m., on Sunday night at the beer stand. You need not be present to win. Sponsored by Monticello Community Club with proceeds returning to the Community.

Sue Moen file photo

Registration for the FREE Kids Pedal Tractor Pull. is at 9:30 a.m., at W. North Avenue, in front of Monticello Pool House. For ages 3-10, four age classes, and trophies! The competition begins at 10:00 a.m.

Oh, and what about helping? All the local organizations are stretched thin over the weekend and would appreciate volunteers.

Monticello Homecoming is sponsored by The Monticello Community Club, the Village of Monticello, and the Monticello Chamber of Commerce. The Monticello Community Club is a local organization that has been in existence for over 80 years. The club's purpose is to make our community a great place to live and raise a family. Our annual Homecoming celebration is the main fundraiser for projects that better Monticello. Through the years, the Club has contributed to the development and improvement of Lake Montesian, the village park, ball diamond, concession stand, basketball court, the octagon shelter house, the depot, the pool, the village playground equipment, and many other projects in our Village, as well as to fund scholarships for our local graduates.

Please come enjoy what Monticello has to offer during Homecoming 2022.