The Mount Forest Homecoming 2017 is still over a year away, but the committee in charge has already been meeting for a year and a half.
A brochure outlining the weekend activities – set for June 22 to 25, 2017 – is almost finished and a Facebook page has followers around the world.
The Facebook page “sprouted to a group of followers numbering 995 in the first month and are now at 1,282 members”, says Homecoming chair Rich MacVicar. “We then grew into a web page February/March of 2015.”
He says he isn’t surprised at the interest.
“Everybody is rooted to their hometown and Mount Forest is a very tight-knit town, always has been and always will be,” he said, adding the committee is funneling information through its website (mountforesthomecoming.ca) and the Facebook page.
“Heck, we may even get Twitter,” MacVicar said with a laugh.
Mount Forest has a long tradition of homecoming weekends, though there hasn’t been one since 2007. Formerly called the Mount Forest Old Boys and Old Girls Reunions, they were held every 10 years.
“And then for the last two … they went every five years because it was felt it was needed for those who were elderly to enjoy,” MacVicar said.
Past reunions were held under the chairmanship of Jean Weber and Merv Weber, both of whom are now deceased.
“I knew Jean and Merv fairly well, but it is my honour and pleasure to carry on their hard work of so many years,” MacVicar says.
He was very involved in the last homecoming in 2007, as he and his wife Dale (Troyer) MacVicar were named junior ambassadors and presided over the weekend events along with senior ambassadors Al and Annabelle Langdon.
Merv Weber’s wife Carol and his daughters Angie and Shelley are all members of the planning committee for the 2017 homecoming.
“I am sure Jean and Merv are looking over our shoulders,” MacVicar says.
Committee members Tim Noonan, Marion Reeves-Yake, Bill Nelson and Linda Shupe have all helped plan previous homecomings in Mount Forest as well.
It was on the golf course, way back in 2013 and 2014, that the idea of holding a Homecoming in 2017 was first discussed. “Some of the committee members that we have now would mention about previous homecomings and say, ‘who is going to organize the next one?’” MacVicar said.
“So I said, ‘If you guys will help I will get it rolling.’”
A meet-and-greet of interested volunteers was held in January 2015, an executive was formed and the first official meeting was in February 2015.
“Since then we have been meeting monthly as a group to organize for the 2017 Mount Forest Homecoming celebrations,” said MacVicar.
In the planning stages are a youth dance on Thursday evening, a Mount Forest Homecoming Idol / Beer Gardens karaoke contest on Friday, and a pyjama breakfast and parade on Saturday morning ,followed by events for children, a beer gardens, barbecue and implement show, culminating with the Mount Forest band Assorted Affair opening for Hotel California, the original tribute to the Eagles Band, on Saturday night. Tickets will go on sale in this month.
On the Sunday of homecoming there will be school reunions at the Sports complex and the Mount Forest Archives will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday “for anyone wanting to re-connect with old friends.”
A reunion slo-pitch game is also being planned.
People are already inquiring about tickets and accommodations, MacVicar says.
Homecoming products with the new logo are available on the website and Ludachris Hats, based in Mount Forest, is specially producing men’s and women’s hats which will be available at the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival this summer. The committee will be setting up a sponsorship program for businesses that would like to provide financial support. “The Mount Forest Agricultural Society invited the Homecoming Committee to accept donations at the door during the Home and Garden Show this year and the public was very, very kind,” MacVicar says.
“We received donations totalling $1,142 over the two days, which was very much appreciated by the committee.”
“Homecoming has always ran with a slim budget from reunion to reunion, with proceeds being divided up between the community groups who volunteer with the weekend main event so money can go back into the community.”
Three fundraising events are planned:
– Paint Nite and Cocktails on July 12, described as “a fun night of socializing, cocktails and painting”;
– Bubbles and Suds, “a prestigious wine and craft beer sampling” on Oct. 22 with music by Assorted Affair; and
– a Mount Forest Trivia Night on Oct. 8 sponsored by the Mount Forest Optimist Club and the Homecoming Committee.
More volunteers are always welcome. They can sign up by contacting MacVicar or any member of the Homecoming Committee.
