July - Monticello Homecoming

Monticello Homecoming

Annual Community Celebration

July 7th through 9th, 2023

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 7th 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 5-9 pm (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 558-5493. To register your softball team, contact Corey McGowan at 214-9510. Currently the Softball Tournament Schedule is to have Co-ed start playing on Thursday night. Friday night will have the Men play. Both Saturday and Sunday, the games will alternate between Men and Co-ed teams, every other game, so you get a chance to see both styles play. This is a different softball than we usually see at Homecoming – “chuck & duck” – so it should be interesting to check out.

You don’t need to eat before you come in to Homecoming! The Lions Food Stand opens Friday at 4 pm. 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 Lion’s 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 Octagon Shelter, near the lake. Zwingli Brotherhood will serve from 5:00 PM till supply is exhausted, a meal consisting of 1/4# (smoked) pulled pork sandwich, Cole slaw, baked beans, bag of chips, milk or water, and ice cream. Cost is $10…..
Free Fall is playing Friday night from 8pm to midnight at the main beer tent. No admission charge. Join the Monticello Public Library on Friday evening at sunset for a FREE movie in the park! The big screen will be set up by the river and the movie will start around 9pm. Bring your own blankets or chairs and enjoy a family-friendly film out under the stars.

 

SATURDAY
Join us on Saturday, July 10th for Monticello PTO’s Pony Trot 5K Run/Walk and Little Pony 1K. The Little Pony 1K begins at 8:00am and the 5K Fun Run/Walk begins at 8:30. Register by June 25th to guarantee a t-shirt. The link to 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 7:30am at the elementary 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 289-4170. Basketball ($75) is Jacob Marty at 558-5493.
On Saturday, the Monticello Public Library will have a tent set up along the park sidewalk from 9am-1pm, so stop by to visit! We’ll have water activities and experiments for you to try, so come check it out for a fun way to cool off and take a break from the sun.

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 at W Monroe St, in front of Monticello Pool House. For ages 3-10, four age classes, and trophies! The competition begins at 10:00. No pre-registration necessary. Kids participating will receive a coupon for our local Homecoming food vendors for participating. Thank you to our sponsor Pleasant Grain.
The Monticello Area Museum will be open Saturday from 10-2. 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 3 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 and will run throughout the afternoon.

Don’t forget the canoe races around Lake Montesian. You can register at the lake at 1:30 pm on Saturday. Races will begin at 2:00 pm. Teams will consist of seniors over 55; adult males 17 & older; adult females 17 & older; co-ed 18 & under; co-ed adult; co-ed mixed (adult/child); 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 pm to 5:00 pm at the main beer tent, Two County Lines will entertain, sponsored by Monticello Community Club.

At the beer stand from 8 until midnight, there will again be live music, Rock Rebel Junction (no cover charge, of course), with at break at about 9:45 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 pm

 

SUNDAY
A Community Church Service will begin at 9:30 at Montesian Gardens, led by UCC with Zwingli Washington Reformation UCC. 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 $14 or just chicken for $9. Serving will begin at 11:00 am at the Octagon Shelter. Carry-outs are available. Delivery service is also available by the Monticello Fire Department for senior citizens, handicapped or disabled persons, who don’t have anyone to come pick up their chicken. Contact Carol at 608-293-4994 before 5 pm on Saturday, July 8th to order delivery and please leave a message.

The parade will begin at 2:00 pm on Sunday, July 20, 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 938-1133. Questions can be answered at monticellohomecomingparade@gmail.com. There is always room for more participants – floats are fun and you can let your inner clown shine through! And we could surely use your sponsorship. The Community Club pulls a float honoring Veterans and all Veterans, both past and present, are invited to ride. There is a ramp to assist entry onto the trailer and a tent to provide some shade. No prior notice needed. Float loads at the corner of E Lake Ave and Adams Rd at around 1:30 on Sunday.
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 pm (after the parade ends). $20 per co-ed 2-person team ($10/person), single elimination, 32 teams. Registration is day of. For questions, contact Kadin Wirth at 214-1591.

Sunday afternoon and evening music lineup: At the main beer stand, after the parade, about 3 pm, The Zweifel Brothers will be performing until 6pm. They are sponsored by Voegeli Chevrolet and Monticello Ford. Then, River Rockers will play from 7-10:30 p.m., sponsored by the Monticello Community Club. Hang out for good fun and conversation until the raffle drawing at 9pm. (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 & $50), 4 Brewer Tickets for Aug 26th with Tailgate Town Food & Beverages, and Parking Pass (valued at $250), Bean Bag Boards & Bags (valued at $175), 30L Cooler (valued at 15), a Titlest Golf Bag (valued at $150), and a $100 Gift Certificate to Kalahari. 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 pm 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.

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 eighty 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 2023.

 

HOMECOMING POSTER 2023 (click to download) 

 

HOMECOMING DETAILS 2023 (click to download)