A.L. Mebane alumni celebrate

The A. L. Mebane High School Homecoming Reunion celebrated its weekend of festivities with its traditional parade on Saturday through downtown Alachua. 

It was a weekend for celebrations as the A.L. Mebane High School Alumni Association held its annual homecoming reunion starting on Friday and continuing into Sunday.

Each year the alumni association puts together an entire weekend of events that bring former students and the community together as each graduating class boasts its preeminence over the others.

The series of events began Friday evening with the “Ms. Alumni & Little Miss Hornet Pageant” at the Alachua Woman’s Club on Main Street.  Following the pageant was a teen dance, also at the Woman’s Club.

On Saturday, Alachua’s downtown was the site of the alumni parade that began at Lee’s Preschool on SR 241 N., crossed US Highway 441 and then followed Main Street through the historic business district.

City officials from Alachua, Newberry and High Springs participated in the parade, which included units from Alachua, High Springs, Gainesville and beyond.

The parade included a variety of vehicles, including cars, trucks, boats and a motor home.  Colors of the day were vibrant green and gold that decorated not only parade entries, but many of the alumni who represented classes from 1957 to 1975 as well.

After the parade, revelers headed over to Mebane Middle School to continue with an afternoon and evening of activities.   The lineup included a car show, the opening ceremony, fallen soldiers memorial service, salute to the military, dedication of the A.L. Mebane High School museum, and presentation of the play “The Chip Woman’s Fortune.” A reception honoring the classes of 1960, 1965, and 1970 was also held. Saturday’s events ended with an evening of basketball games.

Sunday marked the conclusion of the homecoming events with a church service at Old Town Church of God In Christ Alachua.

The A.L. Mebane High School Alumni Association holds various fundraisers and community projects throughout the year in Alachua and surrounding communities. Money raised during the weekend’s festivities contributes to the scholarship fund of the alumni association.