By Jim Muir

SESSER — Sweet corn, barbecues and plenty of smiles will take center stage in Sesser this Wednesday for the four-day run of the 58^th Annual Rend Lake Days.

The popular yearly event is held at the spacious Sesser City Park and is one of Southern Illinois’ longest running festivals.

The Sesser Homecoming is completed each year with 100 percent volunteer help. Randall Crocker, a Sesser businessman and longtime member of the Sesser Homecoming Association, said volunteers continue to show up every year without being solicited.

“I think it’s just an amazing group of people that volunteer year after year,” said Crocker. “Everybody shows up and does their part and it really makes it pretty simple. It’s unbelievable the way everybody jumps in and does their part and makes it happen every year. There are just a lot of good people that have all pulled together throughout the years to help make the homecoming a success.”

Crocker said generation after generation has attended the longstanding event and said he still fondly recalls attending the homecoming as a child growing up in Sesser.

“I’ll never forget the excitement when the rides started going up and we were all hanging around the park waiting for it start,” said Crocker. “I’ve been at the park working the past few days and kids are still hanging around waiting for things to get going.”

Keith Ward has been involved in the annual event for 53 years and has served as the master of ceremonies during night activity for 43 of those years. He said the homecoming was initiated as a way to draw residents back to the Franklin County community.

“It was designed initially to promote the city of Sesser and have a coming home for residents and I think the success shows that people love to come here every year,” said Ward.

Ward gave high marks to the Sesser Homecoming Association saying that for decades the group has done a “remarkable job” channeling revenue from the event back into the community.

“Every bit of the money goes right back into the community,” said Ward. “The stage here in the park, the pavilion and the lights in the park was all built with money from the homecoming. It’s an event that people from all over the area looks forward to each year and we’re proud of that. It’s something that the entire community takes a lot of pride in and it just continues to grow each year.”

When addressing the popularity of the homecoming Ward noted that a crowd of 6,000 to 8,000 – three to four times the population of Sesser – will converge on the city park this weekend.

“The entertainment has always been free and it’s just a good family atmosphere,” said Ward. “We’re expecting the same thing this year.”

On Wednesday night a J & J Magic Midway and Rides will open at 6 p.m. for a four-night run at this year’s event and at 7:30 p.m. “Salty Dogs” will perform. “We Got You Covered” – a popular local band – will perform on Thursday night, and the Sesser Homecoming’s famous roast corn will be available along with those tasty bar-b-que sandwiches.

On Friday night there will be an Overload Horse Pulling Contest at 5 p.m. with country legend Gene Watson performing at 8 p.m. The final day of this year’s Homecoming on Saturday will kick off early at 8 a.m with a 5K Fun Run & Walk, followed by the 50^th Annual Car Show that will begin with registration at 9:30 a.m. At 4 p.m. on Saturday the Annual Homecoming Parade will begin followed by a program at Miner’s Memorial Park beginning at 6 p.m. Country star Johnny Lee will perform at 8 p.m. with the crowning of the 2013 2013 Sesser Homecoming queen, princess and prince. The drawing for the free trip for two to Hawaii for a will will be at 11 p.m.