Saturday Evening at the Fall Festival

Except for the great entertainment each year, probably no event draws a bigger crowd than the McLeansboro Fall Festival Parade. Vehicles of every description, marching bands, politicians, karate students, local and area merchants, horses, and, of course, the incredible floats are all greeted with wild cheers and a mad scramble for candy as each of the parade participants roll by.  This year’s parade theme was “Music of the 50’s and 60’s” and I could just about swear I saw  Elvis walk by.

 

We all know  a lot of preparation and planning goes into not only organizing the parade but also participating in it. Cars and trucks and tractors are washed and shined up, music is rehearsed, candy is bought, outfits are picked out, and floats are worked on and prepared until everything is just right to bring every spectator real pleasure as they watch the spectacle pass by. I noticed a few men washing and shining up the local fire trucks earlier in the day and I’d just like to say “Thank You” to all the men and women who make up our Fire Dept., our Police and Sheriff’s office, our ambulance services and the men and women who too often go unrecognized but keep us safe and are there in any emergency. It’s good to see you get to “strut your stuff” in the parade and God Bless each and every one of you.