iBerkshires.com Columnist SectionSue Bush
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Children’s Parade 2005By Susan Bush
12:00AM / Friday, September 30, 2005
 | | Main Street belonged to children for about 30 minutes during a Sept. 30 Fall Foliage Festival Children's Parade. |
North Adams – The Sept. 30 Fall Foliage Festival Children’s Parade drew its’ largest crowd in recent memory, as about 250 people lined the length of Main Street’s northern sidewalk and applauded the pint-sized parade participants.
The parade stepped off from Eagle Street at 5:30 p.m. with 10-year-old Luke McKay leading the way astride his horse “Missy.†Child-sized floats built from wagons and imaginations rolled along the route and costumed children walked, rode, or were carried down the street to the parade’s City Hall conclusion.
Delaney Babcock, 5, dressed as "Cinderella." |
Those in the crowd clapped, cheered and otherwise encouraged the youngsters as Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Events Coordinator Kathy Keeser and Fall Foliage Festival “Golden Jubilee†Parade Director Paul Renaud guided the Main Street march.
Eagle Street served as the parade meeting place and line-up arena; participants arrived beginning at about 4:45 p.m..
“Leprechauns,†“princesses,†Disney characters such as “Winnie-the-Pooh,†“Cinderella, “ Tinkerbell,†“Mickey Mouse†and Minnie Mouse,†and even a duo decked out in a large “5†and “0†– to honor the Oct. 2 festival parade’s 50th anniversary – scampered along the closed-to-traffic roadway and posed for numerous media photographs.
As the marching hour approached, parents adjusted wayward costume straps, masks, and wigs, and children took their assigned places in the line.
A Minnesota Early Learning Design [a national young mothers initiative affiliated with the Healthy Families program of the Child Care of the Berkshires organization] parade entry turned toddlers into “Wizard of Oz†characters with costumes and clever make-up.
The MELD group is led by Sherri Simon and Laura Tatro, and is focused on mothers under age 20 and children under age 3. During the parade, several group parents marched with their children and smiled at the crowd response to their efforts.
"China Doll" Madison Marceau, 7, gave a big bear hug to four-year-old Erin Marceau, who was dressed as Winnie-the-Pooh. |
Tatro said that the group relies heavily on contributions and wanted to show their appreciation by taking part in a family-oriented community event.
“This was a great way to get involved and be part of the community that has supported us,†she said. “The moms are here with their kids and it’s a way to show that we appreciate our community and are involved with the kids.â€
Prizes were awarded in the float, group, and costume category, and were awarded trophies during a brief ceremony at City Hall. Top prizewinners were invited to march as part of the Oct. 2 Fall Foliage Festival 50th anniversary “Golden Jubilee†parade.
Three-year-old Aleigha Bush had a bird's eye view of the festivities perched atop her grandfather's shoulders. |
A complete list of prizewinners will be posted at www.iberkshires.com next week.
A multi-photograph “Children’s Parade 2005†slideshow will be posted at www.iberkshires.com during the upcoming week.
Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush@iberkshires.com or at 802-823-9367.
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