The committees organizing the components of Andalusia’s Homecoming 2010 celebration have lots of things planned for Andalusia in November – from little details like planting yellow pansies throughout town to big events expected to draw a crowd of 15,000.

The celebration, part of the state Tourism and Travel’s 2010 celebration of Small Towns and Downtowns, centers around the county’s annual Veterans Day celebration and includes a musical program, a street dance, air show, civic project, quilt show and a gala.

Veterans programs

On Veterans Day, Thurs., Nov. 11, the community’s traditional parade and ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park will be followed by an outdoor reception “under the big top” and the placement of a historic marker at city hall, formerly East Three Notch School. The marker is being provided by the state of Alabama.

Civic project

The civic project for Homecoming 2010 is the improvement and expansion of Andalusia’s Dream Park, located on the campus of LBWCC. Lisa Patterson reported for the Dream Park committee, and said the new build is scheduled for Oct. 20-24.

“Our kickoff is May 14 at Superior Bank,” Patterson said.

“We’re going to raffle off a Big Green Egg with all proceeds going to the Dream Park.”

The Quilters Guild also is going to raffle a quilt with all proceeds going to the Dream Park, she said. As in the original build for the Dream Park, the fundraising effort will include handprints ($25), and supporters may also buy pickets for a new fence ($50).

The handprints and pickets will be pre-sold beginning May 14, and children will be invited to make handprints at a later date.

Billy Bimbo is chairing the fundraising for the project, Patterson said.

A dedication or ribbon cutting will be held during the homecoming weekend, Nichols said.

Andalusia in Review

On Thursday evening, there will be a free performance at the LBWCC Dixon Center, “Andalusia in Review.”

Paula Sue Duebelt and Sue Bass Wilson are putting together the show.

“Sue and I have eight pages of script, going back to Indians, whom we believe were here first,” Duebelt said.

The program will include music appropriate for the history.

“Like when the settlers are coming, it might be ‘Wait for the Wagon,’ “ Wilson said.

“There’ll be some group singing, individual singing,and dancing.”

Open houses, book signing

On Fri., Nov. 12, daytime events will include open houses in the city schools and a book signing by local authors at the Andalusia Public Library.

Street dance

Martha Duggan is chairing the committee staging a street dance on Fri., Nov. 12, between the old Andala and the current CenturyLink buildings. Perfect Image from Mobile will entertain from a wide musical repertoire, she said.

Air Show

Jed Blackwell reported that the David Schultz Air Show has been contracted to stage an air show, which will begin at 1 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 13.

“We already have 22 vendors on board,” Blackwell said.

“There also will be a car show that will coincide with this event.”

The last air show held at the South Alabama Regional Airport, held in 1991, drew 9,000 people, Blackwell said

“We’re setting a goal of 15,000, which would be a crowd similar to attendance at the Rattlesnake Rodeo.”

Like most of the Homecoming 2010 events, the air show is free.

Other events

Other events planning during the extended Homecoming 2010 weekend are a quilt show hosted by the Covington Quilters Guild at Johnson Park.

“Visions of Thread and Fabric” will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Both First Baptist Church and First United Methodist Church have agreed to host welcome centers for visitors who need a place to rest and refresh between events.

A juried art show is also in the works, organized by Dot Burkett.

Saturday’s events will be end with a gala at the Kiwanis Center.

The four-day Homecoming event is being organized by the city’s Tourism and Relocation committee and chaired by Barbara Nichols.