Schedule of Events
78th Annual Arma VJ Homecoming
Theme: 'Home'
August 8-11, 2024
Location
Arma City Park,
251 N. 5th St., Arma, KS 66712
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8
5 p.m. – PICKLEBALL DOUBLES TOURNAMENT for men, women and mixed doubles, Northeast High School court. Warm up at 4 p.m. $30 per team, $45 per team with two festival T-shirts. Concessions and hot dogs available. To register call 620-875-3750 by Noon August 7.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9
9 a.m. – ARMA VJ HOMECOMING GOLF TOURNAMENT, $300 fee for 4-man team, includes lunch, Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 Horton St., Fort Scott. Prizes awarded for each flight, plus closest pin and longest drive contests, raffle drawing for prizes. To register, call 620-704-3189 or rcramer@usd246.org.
9 a.m. – PICKLEBALL DOUBLES TOURNAMENT for seniors (age 50+) and children (6-11 and 12-18), inside NEHS gymnasium courts. Warm up at 8 a.m. $30 per team, $45 per team with two festival T-shirts. Biscuits and gravy, beverages for purchase by NEHS HOSA. To register call 620-875-3750 by Noon August 7.
5 to 10 p.m. – Purchase Saturday night prize drawing tickets, $1 per ticket in front of Veteran Memorial. Also purchase $15 Homecoming T-shirts , 50/50 raffle and Saturday inflatables wristbands.
5 to 10 p.m. – FOOD & DRINKS: Food vendors, 5th Street next to Arma City Park; City Park Hamburger stand by NEHS senior class and parents; American Legion Post 182 beer stand
5 to 8 p.m. – CRUISE NIGHT CAR SHOW, downtown Arma. Chairmen Ira Reiken and Jack Alvested. Rollin’ Nostalgia car show sponsored by Pairott Head Liquors, Pittsburg.
5 to 8 p.m. – MOTORCYCLE SHOW, downtown Arma. Sponsored and chaired by Fort Scott Community College School of Harley Davidson
6 to 8 p.m. – 50-50 BINGO, Arma American Legion. 25-cents a card for change to win 50% of Bingo pots, refreshments available for purchase. Chairwomen Michelle Holder and Steffie Peternell
7 to 10 p.m. – ALL-AGES STREET DANCE with DJ Curtis Benelli at grandstand
​
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
​7:30 a.m. – Registration for Run for Our Veteran 5K in front of Veteran Memorial, Arma City Park, $30 entry fee includes T-shirt to first 50 entrants
8 a.m. – RUN FOR OUR VETERANS 5K - Race starts at 5th and Washington streets; ends at 3rd and Washington streets with Arma Fire Department water splash. Proceeds go to VetLinks, supporting veterans with PTSD, TBI and other challenges.
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – ARTS & CRAFT VENDORS, south side of Arma City Park
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Purchase Saturday night prize drawing and 50/50 raffle tickets. Purchase $10 session wristbands for Saturday inflatables. Sessions: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m.
9:30 a.m. – CHILDREN’S PARADE Decorated bicycles, pets and other novelties. Line up by 9 a.m. across from Northeast Elementary (Washington and West streets). All entrants receive a free bowling coupon from Holiday Lanes of Pittsburg. Prizes: 1st $25, 2nd $20, 3rd $15 for each age group: Age 5 and under, 6-8, 9-12.
10 a.m. – 78th ANNUAL VJ HOMECOMING PARADE Entries must be at Northeast Elementary by 9 a.m. Grand Marshal past American Legion Post 182 and District Commander John Melvin.
Parade Float Prizes: Float entries to be judged on capturing Homecoming theme, “Home,” including workmanship and overall appearance. 1st $250, 2nd $150, 3rd $100. Chairperson Jody Klinkon.
SEK Bed Derby parade entries: Line up at Northeast Elementary by 9 a.m. for 10 a.m. parade. Entries are judged on best theme (your choice) and most creative. Winners receive 1st $250, 2nd $150, 3rd $100
Novelties: Top 3 receive: 1st $25, 2nd $20, 3rd $15
Classic & Vintage Autos: Top 6 selected: 1st $50, 2nd $30, $20
Motorcycles: Top 3 receive: 1st $25, 2nd $20, 3rd $15
Antique & Classic Tractors: Top 3 receive: 1st $25, 2nd $20, 3rd $15.
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – INFLATABLES carnival with attendants. Purchase $10 wristband for session in front of Veterans Memorial
11 a.m. – 3rd ANNUAL SOUTHEAST KANSAS BED RACE DERBY Teams of 5 race two blocks in downtown Arma in timed event. Winners receive 1st $250, 2nd $150, 3rd $100. hairman Larry Black,
11 a.m to 10 p.m. – HAMBURGER STAND, FOOD VENDORS, AMERICAN LEGION BEER STAND
11:30 a.m. – KID’S GAME - New location: Inside park near shelter house. All kids get a prize! Chairperson Lori Woods. Age groups: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Event winners in each age group receives: 1st $15, 2nd $10, 3rd $10;
Noon – MUD VOLLEYBALL, near Arma swimming pool. $90 entry fee for a team of 6: men’s, women’s and co-ed. Contact Juanita Young 620-249-1491 to register. Proceeds go to Donnie Strong who suffered brain injury in a rodeo accident on June 21.
2 p.m. – WOMEN’S ROLLING PIN THROWING CONTEST, near Arma City Park shelter house, sponsored by Mengarelli’s Italian Table of Arma. Ages 16 and older. 1st $50, 2nd $40, 3rd $30, 4th $20, 5th $10, chairperson Brenda Banks
2:30 p.m. – WOMEN’S NAIL DRIVING CONTEST, near Arma City Park shelter house, sponsored by Kenny’s Hardware and Beltram’s U-Store It. Ages 16 and older. 1st $50, 2nd $40, 3rd $30, 4th $20, 5th $10, chairperson Brenda Banks
5 to 7 p.m. – SPAGHETTI FEED, Arma American Legion. $10 all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meatballs, salad and dessert. Fundraiser for Arma American Legion operations.
6 to 10 p.m. – INFLATABLES CARNIVAL with attendants. Purchase $10 wristband in front of Veterans Memorial, corner of 5th and Washington streets
6 p.m. – CAKEWALK, near the grandstand, 50 cents a game.
7:20 p.m. – HEADS OR TAILS GAME. Before we flip a coin, you touch either your head or tail for your guess of the coin toss. Correct choices stay in the game. The last one standing wins $100 cash. Sponsored by Sami’s Legacy
7:30 p.m. – SATURDAY NIGHT PRIZE DRAWING – More than $4,500 in cash and prizes from area merchants and businesses. Must be present to win! See following pages for list of prizes and sponsors. Bring your lawn chairs!
8 to 10:30 p.m. – THE MIXTAPES, 1990s rock/pop tribute band, sponsored by Meyer Law Firm, LLC, Ryan/Fox Insurance, Jay Hatfield Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Arma Homecoming Association
​
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
9 to 11:30 a.m. – FULL BREAKFAST of biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs, fruit and cinnamon rolls with coffee, juice, mimosa and bloody Mary, free-will offering, St. Joseph Catholic Church Hall, 310 W. South St.
10 a.m. – ARMA HOMECOMING SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT – 7 & 3 co-ed slow-pitch, NEHS softball field, $225 per team. Proceeds go toward Northeast Youth Football League. Contact Whitney 620-249-0679 to register.
11:30 a.m. – Registration for Bocce Tournament, Arma City Park, $5 per person for teams of two. Chairpersons Greg and Tracy Bogina
Noon – ARMA VJ HOMECOMING BOCCE TOURNAMENT
1 to 3 p.m. – POLKAS IN THE PARK with the Johnnie Zibert Polka Band. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy!
1:30 p.m. – Registration for Junior Bathing Beauty Contest, northwest corner inside Arma City Park. No entry fee. Trophies awarded to Top 3 boys and girls in these age groups: 6 to 11 months, 1 year, 2 year, 3 year old. Chairpersons Joyce Klinkon, Rita DeGruson and Cindy Neeley. Contestants must wear swimsuit attire. Sponsored by Joan Black and Margaret Ann Setina
2 p.m. – JUNIOR BATHING BEAUTY CONTEST begins.
All events and prizes are subject to change without notice.