PARKERSBURG - While many pageants and other events for Parkersburg Homecoming take place before the festival even begins, other smaller programs are part of the weekend.
While everyone knows about the most popular contest of the Rubber Ducky Derby, which will be held Aug. 19 with a drawing, there are many other pageants and contests more obscure or new.
The Pretty Baby Contest at 3 p.m. Aug. 18 is always full of children ranging in age from newborn to 3-years-old, said homecoming president Randall Roberts.
"The farmers' market tent is always full of parents and kids," Roberts said. "The Pretty Baby Contest is always a fun one."
The deadline to enter a child in the event is 10 p.m. Aug. 17 with no exceptions.
A competition of skill, agility and ability will take place at 1 p.m. Aug. 19 as four-person teams go through an obstacle course during the Bartender and Server Race sponsored by CJ's Italian Kitchen.
Registration to participate in the event ends Aug. 17 while those who wish to watch it can line up on Second Street.
"It is all local servers and it's gonna be real entertaining and fun," Roberts said.
The Decorate Your Dog competition will be at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 18 with registration beginning an hour before the event at the Bicentennial Park stage.
For the first year, Point Park will host a fishing derby for children ages 1-year-old to 16-years-old at 9 a.m. Aug. 19
"We wanted to try something that would bring kids to Point Park and incorporate fishing into Homecoming," Roberts said. "If all goes well this year, we hope to expand it to adults next year."
