Kiwanis parade to march through Perry

The Kiwanis Club will once again sponsor the Georgia National Fair Farm City Days Parade.

John Walker, who co-chairs the parade with Mike Baker, said the local Kiwanis Club has sponsored the parade for many years.

“The entire time they’ve had the fair, we’ve had the parade, I think,” Walker said. “I believe this is the 28th year for the fair. We used to have something known as Farm City Days in Perry, sort of an annual festival they did. This is a carry over from that, I suppose.”

The annual parade is held every first Saturday of the fair week in order to kick off the fair, Walker said. Members of the Georgia Agriculture Exposition Authority typically ride up front as dignitaries, he added.

“It is a free parade for participants. The way we handle it is we have an ongoing database of participants, and we send out a letter to prospective participants and then follow up with rules for those that have signed up,” Walker said. “We’ve got enough spaces at the back, so if anyone wants to enter, we’ll let them enter even at this late date.”

To enter the parade, call Walker at 478-224-0224.

Every year, the parade includes cars, floats, usually horses and sometimes even acts from the fair itself will participate. This year, viewers can expect to see the Shriners, some motorcycle groups and multiple high school bands. Even the color guard from Robins Air Force Base often participates.

This year’s grand marshal is State Rep. Penny Houston, chair of the Ga. House Appropriations subcommittee.

This year’s parade will follow the same route that has been used the last several years, Walker said. The parade route will be on Washington Street, beginning at the Intersection of Commerce Street, proceed to Main Street, turn south on Courtney Hodges Boulevard and end at a designated area outside the North Gate of the Georgia National Fairgrounds.

It will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. Participants will need to line up by 9 a.m.

“It’s a pretty long route, a mile or so, I would guess,” Walker said. “People can bring lawn chairs, and kids. The family is invited, and we encourage people to come out. It should be a fun time.”

HHJ News