It all began on July 21, 1928 when Houstoun Waring, editor of the Littleton Independent, held a 40th anniversary celebration for the paper. The event was met with overwhelming support. The community, under the direction of Waring, decided to hold a celebration in 1929 commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Richard S. Little, the founder of the Littleton community. The event was named “Homecoming” calling everyone who had ever lived or visited Littleton to come home.

Originally the Homecoming Celebration was set for May 12, 1929, on Richard Little’s birthday, but when it was pointed out that railroad rates dropped in August and therefore “…people can come from great distances without much expense,” the now traditional August date was set. The first Homecoming began with a play on Friday, August 1, 1929 titled Adam and Eva, presented by the Littleton Dramatic Club to benefit the Littleton Hose Company’s Christmas Tree Fund.

The celebration continued with a ball game between the Littleton Hose Company and the Littleton Merchants. The “hose” boys invited local people who wished to decorate their cars or trucks to participate in the first parade. Though it rained on their parade, it didn’t stop Mayor Louthan from riding on top of the town water wagon dressed in a Prince Albert costume and top hat. The Ford Essex, entered by the Bussard Motor Company was the first place winner in the car division and the winning truck was the Valore Hardware truck.

Mayor Charles G. Louthan started the tradition of having a grand marshal of the parade with the first parade. The selection is made by the parade committee and is a person who has made a significant contribution to the Littleton community.

In 1962, Homecoming Days was renamed Western Welcome Week (WWW). The Chamber of Commerce coordinated the expanded Western Welcome Week activities beyond the traditional Saturday Homecoming celebration.

In 1982 Western Welcome Week was incorporated and became Western Welcome Week, Inc. The “working” board, became responsible for chairing the events produced by Western Welcome Week, heading up committees as determined by the board, and overseeing the implementation of policies, projects, and initiatives.

In 2006, Western Welcome Week, Inc., was granted 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity status by the IRS, making all donations to WWW tax-deductible.

In 2020 Western Welcome Week was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With health guidelines and restrictions, many events had to be canceled. It was a tough and heartbreaking decision for the board, and the vacancy of the annual celebration was felt by the community. The organization was able to hold two events that met health guidelines and restrictions: the Family Pancake Breakfast in Geneva Park and the Brad & Mary Bradford Memorial Duck Race. Western Welcome Week is sincerely thankful to everyone who supported it during those trying times.

2021 was a transitional year as the world and Littleton recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Western Welcome Week was excited to be “together again” holding 90% of the regular events within the set health guidelines at the time.

Today, Western Welcome Week is a ten-day celebration with over 30 events.  The 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity is run by a working board, employs an executive director. The organization is grateful for its liaison from the City of Littleton and partnerships with South Suburban Parks and Recreation, City of Littleton, Littleton Public Schools, Littleton Police Department, South Metro Fire Rescue, and Arapahoe Community College.

2028 will be the 100th anniversary of Western Welcome Week.