Everyone enjoyed the free burger supper at the Legion
sponsored by the Exeter Area Community Foundation.
It was time to get ready for the movie with some fun
glow in the dark body paint sponsored by the Exeter-Milligan Booster
Club. Chezney Kanode paints on Westin Yound as they wait for the movie to
start.
Kolbie Kahlandt watches as Lisa Kanode paints one more
layer of glow in the dark paint on the heart on her leg.
Exeter Librarian Cindy Markowski does double duty as
she makes cotton candy and snow cones before the movie night. All of the
proceeds went to the Exeter Library. Markowski was busy making both at
various locations throughout the weekend.
Emmet Schlegelmilch was eagerly awaiting his cotton
candy with his mom, Mary Schlegelmilch.
Leo Nicholas, left, and Westin Yound, are all ready to
watch the movie in downtown Exeter during Exeter Days.
“E.T.” was the show to watch when it got dark in Exeter
on Friday night during Exeter days.
There were definitely “Small Town Vibes” in Exeter last
weekend as the village held their annual summer celebration. Instead of
just a few select activities the weekend was packed with fun for the whole
family.
About a month ago, Exeter resident, Sara Pella decided she
wanted to see how she could expand on the traditional weekend activities and
from there the event exploded adding tons of art activities along with a
triathlon, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament and so much more.
The weekend began with the traditional meal at the legion
which was sponsored by the Exeter Area Community Foundation. There was
also a “seltzer sippin’” event which allowed those 21 and over to taste a new
alcohol product sold by Greg’s Market.
Inside the legion an art activity was added to the evening
which allowed everyone to make an ET picture to go with the movie. Before
the movie started there were snow cones and cotton candy (with proceeds going
to the library) and glow in the dark body paint sponsored by the
Exeter-Milligan Booster Club.
Lawn chairs were set up and popcorn was passed around in
anticipation of the showing of E T on the side of the Live Well Massage
building.
Saturday morning was also full of activities with a co-ed
softball tournament, beer mile, garage sales, art in the park which included
vendors, an art display and art activities. The pool was also open for a
free swim with games and prizes donated by Twisted Wrench.
There were also a bookmobile and food trucks at the
park. In the afternoon, Handy Hands 4H club sold soft serve ice cream
downtown which was sponsored by Manning Grain. A corn hole tournament was
held behind the Fire Hall with over 40 teams entered.
The parade started at 3 p.m. with Exeter resident Jameson
Trauger singing the national anthem as the Color Guard stopped in front of the
Legion. Trauger then announced the rest of the entries in the
parade. The parade entrants threw out tons of candy along with popsicles,
stickers and tattoos.
Another new event, the three on three basketball tournament
was very popular. There were four divisions of players and the tournament
went on for over four hours before all the winners were crowned.
Before the street dance, the senior center sponsored bingo
and the Exeter Women’s Club sold slices of pie. The Exeter Volunteer Fire
Department served a bbq pork dinner which sold out quickly. The beer
garden was open at five p.m. and “Dad Rock” took the stage from 8 p.m. until
midnight.
Sunday morning started with a community church service in
the park by Pastor Murry Johnston of the Exeter United Methodist Church.
Next on the schedule was the first ever Triathlon sponsored by the Exeter Area
Community Foundation. Each age group had to swim, ride their bike and run
a course through the south side of Exeter. As the age increased, so did
the length of each portion of their triathlon.
Also at Gilberts park there was face painting by the
Exeter-Milligan cheerleaders, cotton candy and snow cones, miniature horse
rides and the pool was open for free swim.
Pella had a long list of people to thank including the many
sponsors for the different events. She also noted that several of the
ideas for events came from Lisa Kanode who was instrumental in setting up many
of the art activities along with introducing the idea of the triathlon to
Pella.
All in all it was truly a fun filled family weekend
definitely packed with “Small Town Vibes.”