News

JEFFERSON COUNTY RESIDENTS PACK MAIN STREET FOR DISTRICT FAIR PARADE

By Ezra Mann/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:18 AM CDT

Residents of Jefferson County and surrounding communities lined Main Street on Monday in anticipation of the start of the downtown street parade, the kick off for the Southeast Arkansas District Livestock Show, Rodeo and Fair.

Drum Major Edwin Spinks of UAPB’s Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South leads the way at the downtown street parade on Main Street for the Southeast Arkansas District Livestock Show, Rodeo and Fair on Monday. Pine Bluff Commercial/Ezra Mann

Some participants even arrived an hour or more early. The parade featured various entrants from political candidates and school bands to beauty queens and Girl Scout troops.

Along the street, there were some people who attended the event for the first time as well as regulars packed together with not an open spot to watch in sight.

“Well, since I was a little girl I’ve never missed one parade or fair,” said Aimee Johnson, a nurse at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, who came with three of her children and her husband. “The bands are a sign of fall.”

LaDonna Hall, a Pine Bluff resident who works at a child support office, brought her daughter and several other children to see the festivities, especially the bands from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Jack Robey Junior High School, and Dollarway School District bands. She is another regular at the parade and fair, which will feature more of an Arkansas flair than usual this time around.

“It gives the community a chance to enjoy the festivities that kick off the fall season,” added Hall. “It gets you in the mood for the carnival.”

Kenneth and Corey Grant are normally participants in the parade, but sat out this year when they could not get shoes for their horses in time. They noted that they were still happy to attend.

“This is my first parade here, but I will keep an eye on the bands since I was a drummer myself,” said Walter Woods Jr., who came to Pine Bluff from New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina. “If your drum section is out of whack, your whole section is out of whack.”

The parade also featured a contest for those that participated with five categories with the chance to win $75 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third.

Categories and winners were: