Weather predictions all week, August 10-17, left Pentwater residents wondering whether or not the scheduled Homecoming events would be held, be postponed or be canceled.
Contrary to many weather predictions, Friday morning was beautiful and perfect for the Sand Sculpture Contest. The event chair, Glenn Beavis, reported there were 36 entries across the seven different categories of age groups and group sizes. The resulting sculptures were as different from each other as the groups who made them.
Three examples were a campsite with a campfire and tent, a dragon, and the House of Flavor’s huge banana split ice cream treat. The ice cream treat, “Yum Yum Super Pig,” won first place in one of the family group categories.
Right up until the 4 p.m. start time of the Saturday Grand Parade, folks were checking the website of the Chamber of Commerce for updates. It was raining but the website announced “The parade is on!” The rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of the parade marchers or the parade watchers. The audience cheered and hollared even as they got wet in the rain despite wearing raincoats. Clapping was a challenge while holding an umbrella, but the audience managed to do both.
The floats and the marchers held up well. There were multiple floats that showed great imagination and many hours of hard work. One group that brightened the scene were the girls in green and vibrant yellow costumes representing daffodils for the Pentwater “Petal Project” - an effort this spring to welcome everyone entering the Village from the north and south with daffodils blooming all along both sides of the Main Street. One striking float was a huge coffee mug atop a car with “steam” rising out of the cup (using dry ice?) that was the entry from Green Isaac’s coffee shop.
The Pentwater Lake Association had two floats in the parade: a pontoon boat advertising their different programs and a simple fishing boat filled with young anglers from the Youth Fishing Contest who had caught fish large enough to qualify for Master Angler Awards. The Pentwater Historical Society entered a very impressive float that took first place for the “Overall Best Float.” It was a large replication of a sunken ship.
At the end of the parade the rain had stopped and the sun had come out. As always, the Scottville Clown Band marched in the final spot to entertain the audience with their costumes and their music. They may dress as clowns, but they are serious musicians who made a very thoughtful gesture on Saturday. Pentwater resident Roger Bailey had marched with them for many years and invited them all to his local home for a picnic during Homecoming festivities. But due to recent health issues, Bailey has been homebound. The Clown Band decided to stop by his home for a visit and wish him well, which brought smiles to the faces of Bailey and his wife, Ruth.
Thunder and lightning brought more rain in the early evening on Saturday and put the fireworks display at risk of cancellation. But the Chamber website said, “The fireworks are on!” The show started about 9:45 p.m., as soon as it was dark enough to appreciate the colors in the sky. It lasted nearly half an hour, garnering the applause of hands and car horns, whistles and cheers.
Weather…or not…Homecoming 2025 was another grand success.
