Two-DayWest Elk Homecoming Celebration To Feature Family Activities, Community Fundraisers, Live Music AndThe Inaugural Sip & StrollWineWalk
-submitted by Debbie Roebuck
The West Elk Alumni Fall Festival will welcome alumni, families and friends to historic downtown Howard for a twoday homecoming celebration Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11-12. The weekend will feature school traditions, family activities, community fundraisers, live entertainment and the inaugural Sip & Stroll Wine Walk.
Friday Homecoming
Events
Festivities begin Friday, Sept. 11, with the West Elk Patriots Homecoming Parade and pep assembly at the intersection of Wabash and Randolph streets. The annual homecoming tailgate, sponsored by Countryside Funeral Home and the West Elk Booster Club, will follow. West Elk will then face Udall at Pat Simmons Memorial Stadium. Members of the Class of 1981, celebrating their 45-year reunion, will be honored during the game.
Saturday Festival Activities
Saturday activities begin with a Cancer Walk benefiting the Elk County Cancer Fund. The Elk County Wrestling Club will serve breakfast burritos in front of the Benson Doll Museum, while a vendor fair runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Elk County Courthouse lawn. Garage-sale vendors, craft vendors and farmers market sellers are welcome.
A car show will be held in the 100 block of South Wabash Street, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Fall Festival parade registration begins at 10 a.m. in front of Howard First Baptist Church, and the parade, featuring alumni floats, starts off at 10:30 a.m.
Additional daytime attractions include face painting, Pie in the Face and a dunk tank sponsored by West Elk organizations and cheerleaders. Afternoon events include the annual cake walk sponsored by American Legion Carter- Rader Post No. 149, the Elk County Farm Bureau Pedal Tractor Pull and the pet show.
The homemade ice cream contest and tasting begins at 2 p.m. in front of Batson's Drug and Family Market, which sponsors the event. Contestants will receive a $25 gift certificate for ingredients, and cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place.
Inaugural Sip & Stroll Wine Walk The Exchange at Wabash, located in the historic Howard National Bank Building, will sponsor the inaugural Sip & Stroll Wine Walk from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Participants must be at least 21 and present a valid ID.
Check-in begins at the historic bank building, where participants will receive a Wine Walk Passport, an ID bracelet and containers for collecting charcuterie ingredients. At six downtown stations, participants will collect a charcuterie component and sample a small amount of wine selected to complement the ingredients, crackers and cheese. Wine brokers Steve and Marilyn Ewing will provide the wine.
Admission includes ingredients and a laser-engraved board for assembling a personal charcuterie spread. VIP participants will also receive an engraved insulated wine cooler. Local Threads of Moline, will provide the engraving.
The route includes the Historic Howard National Bank Building and the adjacent Legion Building, both under restoration by the Elk County Preservation Society LLC. Proceeds will support the restoration and raise awareness of the project. Advance registration is open through Sept. 4 on the Elk County Preservation
Evening Benefit and Street Dance
Evening events begin at 5:30 p.m. with an Off the Page Piano Studio recital and the annual benefit dinner. Dinner proceeds will support the family of John Bliss, a 2026 West Elk graduate who died unexpectedly this summer, and help the Levi and Gina Lowe family with medical expenses for their infant daughter. The festival concludes with a concert and street dance beginning at 7 p.m. West Elk alumnus and touring Nashville musician David Oakleaf returns to Howard for an evening of music and dancing, joined by fellow alumni musician Mike Zimmers.
The annual West Elk Alumni Fall Festival brings generations of graduates, families and friends together for a weekend of school spirit, community support and hometown tradition.
