There were some clouds in the sky on Sunday afternoon but no one rained on the Fredonia Farm Festival parade.
There was something to please all parade goers, young and old. Before the parade began, Rose McCarthy of Williamsville found a place to set a lawn chair, so she could hold her first great-grandchild, Zoey, who is almost four months old. Zoey's grandmother, Patti Greenstein, chose to stand to watch the action.
Greenstein explained, "Zoey's mom works at the college, but we are enjoying the day with Zoey who lives right in Fredonia."
Article Photos
OBSERVER Photos by Diane R. Chodan
Top: The Hot Shots from Collage perform a cheering routine to an appreciative audience that lined the parade route of Sunday’s Fredonia Farm Festival parade.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Mounted Division was the advance unit. Riding on their beautiful and beautifully trained horses, the members smiled and waved to the crowd.
"I'm late to a parade," joked one officer.
Two-year-old Kaiden Goff, wearing sunglasses and smiling in his mother, Joanne Welka's, arms, said, "I got candy." Indeed, candy was abundant, thrown to the children by firefighters driving trucks as well as beauty queens in cars.
The Fredonia's Fire Department proudly displayed its trucks to applause by the spectators. Sheridan Fire Department was also present, a unit marching to a cadence led by James Crowell preceding its equipment.
Beauty queens from last year's Festival of Grapes and Portland waved regally to the crowd.
For those who like the sound of parade music, the Chadwick Bay Buccaneers and the Western New York Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps both performed.
Less traditional but a crowd-pleaser was the Rubbermade Brigade. This group of drummers who use unconventional drums did not march.
As the sign on the front of its truck proclaimed, "We is old so we get towed."
When they perform, donations go to Roswell Cancer Institute and the Humane Society.
Providing the agricultural connection were the Fredonia Grange No. 1 and the Canadaway 4-H. Fredonia Grange was the first grange established.
Canadaway 4-H is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Keeping with this year's 4-H theme "past, present and future" former 4-H members as well as current members and potential future members were represented.
Spectators, which included proud parents, applauded Collage, Danza and Infinity Dance performances. Cub Pack 267 of Fredonia marched, encouraged by adults.
A clown, Kasper, led four Jamestown Shriners who maneuvered their Crazy Carts along the street.
Mark Gugino, who was pushing his young children, Austin and Savannah, in a carriage, summed it up. "The Farm Festival is always fun." he said.
Comments on this article may be directed to dchodan@observertoday.com
