By Theresa Braaten
Everyone guess what?! The May Day parade is a go this year on Saturday, May 20. After a two-year break we are now off with gusto. Wahoo!!
Valley Pride has been spearheading the event. I am helping with registration and a few other aspects of the day.
There are changes so please keep an open mind. In Shrek’s words “Change is good Donkey.”
Here is a rundown.
The starting point will be Kershaw and Old Highway 5 running down the Old Highway 5 to the Old E Free Church -Old Bible Camp (Liquid Lifestyle’s building) and 37E parking lot (Old Chuckwagon Lot). Starting time of the parade will be 11 a.m. Parking will be at the old Safety Mart building and along Old Highway 5 towards Kershaw. There will be no parking on grassy meridian side of Highway 5 by the Elks Hall so people can watch from the grassy meridian.
The pancake breakfast and market will be happening at the Elks Hall and so will the Farmer’s Market at the DLCC Field. This brings together these events and makes it easier for the viewer to capture all three events.
After the parade, the floats and such can carry on home or where ever to clean up. At the DLCC gym and parking lot the fun will continue with food and games. We are trying to bring the old time feel of years gone by. Dime tosses, cake walks, Wheel of Fortune, family races and such will be part of the day. With the theme Embracing Your Heritage, we felt this was a super great fit for reminiscing the parades of the past as we embark on new horizons.
When the May Day parade was first started in 1960 there were 40 to 60 floats. I feel a challenge coming on! Let’s see if we can’t make this the best ever comeback!
Registration is officially open. I can’t wait to see all the smiling faces and entries.
I will send out the registration on request or it can be picked up at the Gateway Grill as we’re trying to figure out an online option.
For more information, please contact Theresa Braaten at 250-674-8181 or tbraaten72@gmail.com.
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