Mount Pulaski Fall Festival a happy place to be on Saturday

 

[September 13, 2022] 

Saturday visitors to Mount Pulaski enjoyed all that was offered at the annual Fall Festival. Weather was ideal for the event with the temperatures being warm enough to enjoy an icy from Kona Ice or ice cream from the Traveling Top Hat without being so hot as to make moving about exhausting.

In the early afternoon, visitors took leisurely strolls about the historic Mount Pulaski Courthouse Square, visiting with the animals at the petting zoo or taking advantage of play time in the multiple bounce houses that were available. Taking a ride on Mike’s Little Train was also a fun activity.

Vendor booths were set with a wide variety of shopping opportunities and food trucks were offering everything from shaved ice and ice cream to cheese drenched foods, Mexican favorites and sweets such as taffy and the delightful little donuts that are practically an institution at the annual festival.

It was also a great day to do some people watching. Some guests gathered on the courthouse lawn took a comfortable seat and just watched as the world passed by. From the bright blue skies with fluffy white clouds to the people who roamed the streets going from one location to another, there was plenty to watch while passing the time away waiting for the parade to start at 4 p.m.

As parade time approached crowds began to gather on Washington Street in town. Many sought out the shade that was cast by the west-side storefronts. They brought their lawn chairs and settled in. As they waited they enjoyed greeting others from the community who were there with the same purpose, to enjoy and cheer on the entries of the parade.

The parade began as many do with bright lights and sirens screaming from the vehicles of the local police department, the Logan County Sheriff’s Department and local fire departments. Mount Pulaski Police Chief Anthony West led the way up the hill from the south and back down the hill to the north.

Guests stood for the National Anthem as it was played in “Rock the Hill” style on an electric guitar. They cheered loudly for Grand Marshal Rick Volle, who drove himself and his wife in their stunning Corvette. Tim and Jodi Deibert also got plenty of attention from the crowd as the Mount Pulaski Volunteers of the Year.

Illinois Senator Sally Turner was on hand with many entries bearing her signs forming a small parade within the larger one.

The Mount Pulaski sports teams were well represented in the parade as was Zion Lutheran School.

Among the farm tractors that were in the parade was a special group paying tribute to the late Caleb Coogan, a young man well-loved in the community, missed by all, and forgotten by none.

From each parade entry candy flew in abundance, so much so that children lining the streets were not able to collect it all before more handfuls were tossed in their directions.

As the last entry passed by the crowd began to disburse slowly. Everyone appeared to be having such a lovely time in the heart of the city that none were all that anxious to leave.

Events would continue on into the evening with great expectations that the fall festival would end well and all would go home a little more tired, but none the less, happy for having been a part of the special weekend in the community.

[Nila Smith]