‘Glentennial’ Homecoming June 19-20: Plans finalized, sponsors announced
Plans are officially finalized for a milestone celebration as the Village of Glen Carbon prepares to host its 100th Homecoming celebration on Main Street.
This year’s “Glentennial” theme promises two days of carnival rides, live entertainment, great food and family-friendly fun during Father’s Day weekend on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20.
Celebrating a century of tradition, the event is expected to draw residents and visitors from across the region.
To help accommodate guests, complimentary shuttle service will be available both evenings between Village Hall and The Wooden Nickel beginning at 5 p.m. and continuing through 10:30 p.m. Shuttle service will be paused briefly during the parade on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Johnny Holzum and Well Hungarians®
The festivities kick-off Friday night at 5 p.m. with delicious food and drinks. Food vendors will be serving brats, Mexican fare, Mediterranean, BBQ, pizza and more. Smoothies, funnel cakes and other sweets will also be on site. Beginning at 7 p.m., Johnny Holzum and Well Hungarians® will hit the stage, performing until 10:30 p.m.
Carnival pre-sale tickets will be available at Village Hall during the hours of 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. beginning June 15. Sheets of 24 tickets are $18 in advance and $20 during the event. Pay by cash or check at Village Hall to avoid credit card fees. Depending on the size of the ride, expect to use between 3 to 5 tickets.
On Saturday, the Covered Bridge 5k and Fun Run happens starting at 8 a.m. This run is part of the Triple Crown Race Series highlighting the most popular runs in the area. Final Lap Management is timing the event, sponsored by Constitution Bank. Learn more and sign-up at https://finallapracing.com/.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Homecoming, the first 100 finishers will receive a commemorative gift. RunWell will also be giving away a new pair of HOKA running shoes to the male and female 1st place finishers.
After the Saturday morning race, the fun continues at the Glen Carbon Fire Station (199 S. Main St.) for their Touch-A-Truck/Open House event. Stop by the fire station between 1 and 3 p.m. for live demonstrations, a bounce house and much more. Immediately following this event, head over to the carnival to purchase discounted $1 ride tickets between 3 and 5 p.m. These special, color-coded $1 ride tickets can only be purchased on site and used between the two-hour timeframe on Saturday. After 5 p.m., tickets can still be used but more will be required per ride.
Evening activities on Saturday begin at 5 p.m. with the Main Street parade, stepping off from New Bethel United Methodist Church and continuing to School Street. Parade-goers are encouraged to bring a chair and enjoy the festivities near the Yanda Cabin, where visitors can also tour the site’s new garden.
This year’s parade grand marshal is Alice Mueller, a longtime Glen Carbon resident celebrating a milestone of her own — living in her 100th year.
Be sure to watch for special “Bob Bucks” distributed along the parade route. Each Bob Buck can be redeemed for a glow-in-the-dark specialty item at the CEC Volunteer Tent located near the library.
The entertainment line-up continues throughout Saturday evening, with music beginning at 4 p.m. The Heaton Brothers will perform on the main stage until 6 p.m., followed by Chef Bananas at the library gazebo with a family-friendly show featuring magic, music, comedy, dancing and mind-bending illusions.
Just in Time.
Headlining the evening is St. Louis-based party band Just in Time, taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. with a high-energy mix of today’s hottest Pop, Hip Hop, R&B and favorite throwbacks.
Then, cap off Saturday night with a fireworks spectacular at 9:30 p.m. In celebration of Glen Carbon’s 100th Homecoming and America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, this year’s show promises to be one of the biggest and most impressive yet.
Mayor Bob Marcus expresses his gratitude to the many generous sponsors whose support help make this weekend of family-friendly fun possible:
- Race Sponsor: Constitution Bank
- Fireworks Co-sponsors: TWM Inc. and CR Holland
- Platinum Sponsors: Allison’s Comfort Shoes, Chick-fil-A, First Community Credit Union, Hawthorne Animal Hospital, Keller Construction, Patterson Tire, Plocher Construction, The Bottle Shop, The Staenberg Group and WHKS
- Gold Level Sponsors: Busey Bank, Korte & Luitjohan, Osborn Homes and Pella Windows and Doors
- Silver Sponsors: Bank of Springfield, Caplaco (Edwardsville Crossing), Haier Plumbing & Heating, Jackson Lewis, Juneau & Associates and Stutz Excavating
- Bronze Sponsors: BCPK Attorney’s at Law, Heartland Bank & Trust, Lerch Properties, Republic Services, U.S. Army, Volkert and Washington Kettle Corn
Photos provided by The Village of Glen Carbon.
The Village of Glen Carbon is a thriving community in Madison County, Ill., with a vision for progress while paying homage to its rich, historical roots. For questions about Glen Carbon Homecoming or other village-related news and events, contact village offices by calling (618) 288-1200 or visit The Village of Glen Carbon online at www.glencarbonil.gov.
