Mount Pulaski Fall Festival Parade launches a great Saturday evening

 

[September 17, 2019] 

This year the organizers of the Mount Pulaski Fall Festival decided to shake things up a bit by moving around some of their regularly scheduled events over the weekend. Among the big changes made was the time change for the Fall Festival Parade. The parade moved from a mid-day event to an early evening event starting at 4 p.m.

That was a good idea. For spectators, the sun was dropping and creating great shaded areas on the west side of the Historic Mount Pulaski Courthouse Square. Planners lined the street on the west side of the block with folding chairs. Another good idea. Guests enjoyed the opportunity to sit right on the edge of the street in comfortable seat.

The change in time was also a good thing for the numerous local candidates running for public office early next year. Those folks had dual duty on Saturday as all of them from State Representative Tim Butler to Logan County competitors for Coroner, Circuit Clerk, State’s Attorney and Circuit Judge all were able to participate in both parades.

As the parade time approached the streets filled with spectators there to cheer for their favorite entries in the parade. Kids brought their big bags for candy collection and were not disappointed as dozens of entries included the traditional tossing of candy as a part of their participation in the parade.

This year the parade featured many local folks, including members of the local FFA and the Shriners Tractor Collectors meant there was tractor after tractor with happy folks smiling and waving from the seats or standing on the back or sitting on the fenders of the machines. As they passed by, folks on the sidelines called out to friends and did the “woot-woot” for farm implements they enjoyed seeing in the parade.

This year the Grand Marshal for the parade was a very well-known fellow in the Mount Pulaski area. Many know Allen Schaal as one of those who always seems to be carrying a camera and snapping pictures here and there. Many of those shots ended up in the Mount Pulaski Times, and readers had the opportunity to admire Schaal’s work from the pages of the paper. Schaal is also active with the Mount Pulaski Township Genealogical and Historical Society and volunteers at the society center on a regular basis.

Schaal rode in the back of a sweet little convertible and enjoyed waving and calling out to friends as he passed by.

Other notable entries included the newest members of Mount Pulaski Royalty.
The Cutest Lil’ Farmer Ross Jones and Lil’ Miss Mount Pulaski Alexandra Bobell shared a ride in the back of a convertible.

In the next convertible was Junior Miss Mount Pulaski Eva Leonard and Miss Mount Pulaski Meredith Nixon.

Another set of ladies who make up the Logan County Royalty - Miss Logan County Fair Queen Skye Kretzinger, Little Miss Jolie Grisham and Junior Miss Anna Kindred were also in the parade.

Before the parade visitors downtown enjoyed the many vendor tables set up around the square. Kids had a real treat with numerous bouncy houses and inflatable obstacle courses and slides to choose from.

The ponies and the petting zoo were popular as well as the balloon artists and face painter.

After the parade there were still great things to do including grabbing a bite to eat from Nuthatch Hill BBQ, the corn dog vendor or the famous Mount Pulaski donut makers. Caramel corn was also a available and a fundraiser cookout was in the works for just a wee bit later.

All-in-all, it was a great weekend in Mount Pulaski that lasted into the evening with live music and lots of opportunities for folks to gather together to visit and enjoy each other’s company.

[Nila Smith]