2024 Winchester Homecoming Festival Royalty: From left, Third Runner-Up- Kylee Moore; First Runner-Up- Anna Shelton; Queen Kynsleigh McCleese; Second Runner-Up- Jasmine Hill; and Fourth Runner-Up- Bethany Gibson. (Photo by Ryan Applegate)
Local singer Chris Crothers performs at last weekend’s Winchester Homecoming Festival. (Photo by Ryan Applegate)
The Ghost Ride through the Winchester Cemetery remains one of the most popular activities at the annual Winchester Homecoming Festival. (Photo by Ryan Applegate)
By Ryan Applegate
People’s Defender
The Winchester Homecoming Festival was held from August 23–25, and it went off without a hitch. The Village of Winchester welcomed residents and out-of-towners for the three-day event, which saw the return of caramel corn and the ever-popular Historic Ghost Ride.
The Queen contest, held Friday evening, crowned Kynsleigh McCleese as Queen. Anna Shelton was named first runner-up, Jasmine Hill was second runner-up, Kylee Moore was third runner-up, and Bethany Gibson was fourth runner-up.
Friday’s opening ceremony included the dedication of a tree and a remembrance stone for the late Anita Kirker and Dennis Pence, both longtime members and volunteers of the Winchester Homecoming Festival committee.
The Tractor Pull event on Saturday was a major success, running well into the night. “The tractor pull was a huge success, it didn’t end until after midnight on Saturday,” said Festival Committee President Patsy Roberts.
Roberts noted that the Homecoming Festival was so well-attended that some vendors ran out of food on the final day. She expressed her satisfaction with the event’s outcome and said “I think it went very well. We had great attendance and great weather. Other than the heat, I didn’t hear any complaints.”
