Children march in Kids Caravan Parade
FRANKLIN TWP — Although America’s 250th birthday has passed, patriotic spirit was alive at the Big Butler Fair’s Kids’ Caravan Parade.
In the parade, held Tuesday, July 7, at the W.L. Roegnik Sr. Cattle Arena, children aged 18 months to 6 years old and their families marched around the arena in patriotic costumes and on floats. Contestants were judged on both, as well as how well they fit the theme. This year’s theme was “The Stars and Stripes Come to the Fair.”
Beverly Everly, the event’s organizer, said she was proud of the effort the competitors put in.
“They put a lot of heart and soul into their floats,” she said.
Although the winners did get a cash prize and a ribbon, the competitors said they weren’t in it for the money.
“I do it because it’s fun,” said Barbara Rader, who has helped her family compete in the event for decades.
Fellow competitor Rebecca McConnell said she competes because she “likes to support the fair in any possible,” while Anna Boylstein, who competed alongside McConnell, said she joined because she wanted her children to do something fun with the McConnell family.
The Rader family won the float contest with their pool party themed float.
The Rader family’s idea came after they scrapped a hot-air balloon and a clown theme. Then, the family drew inspiration from the hot summer weather that usually affects the fair and settled on the idea for a pool party theme.
To take their float to the next level, they stuck a kiddie pool to their float, where their children played during the parade.
Barbara Rader said the kiddie pool served as a themed element and a way to keep their children cool during the parade.
The Rader family’s cool idea paid off. The judges gave everyone in the Rader family an award.
Second place in the float contest went to the Boylstein and McConnell families’ float, a birthday cake for America’s 250th birthday; while third place went to Charlotte Tuzikow’s Jeep float.
Tuzikow, whose float and costume proclaimed her a future Big Butler Fair queen, also won the Best Girl award. Meanwhile, Jack Rader won the Best Boy award unopposed.
There were ties for second and third in the girls’ division. Etta Scott and Brynn Rader tied for second; while Leona Boylstein and Evelyn McConnell, both dressed as stars, tied for third.
