Azalea Parade honoring local veterans

“Peace, Love, and Azaleas” is the theme for the 52nd annual Azalea Festival May 2-4 in Fredericktown.

Azalea Parade Committee member Sharon East coined the phrase: “PEACE for our families, LOVE for our country, and AZALEAS for our hometown.” The phrase coincides with the Azalea Parade Committee’s desire to recognize and honor local veterans as the Grand Marshal.

“We will have a flat-bed, roll-back truck for (the veterans) to ride in, with ladders to help you in,” East explains.

The parade committee is still seeking any group interested in entering a float in this year’s parade. The floats can be entered in one of three categories: Youth; Commercial; or Civic/Religious. In each category, the first place winner will receive $200, second place gets $100, and third receives $75. A single Grand Prize winner will receive $300. Floats will be judged prior to the parade, Sunday, May 4.

Anyone interested in entering a float, any veteran wishing to ride in the Grand Marshal flat-bed, or anyone with any ideas for the Parade Committee, can contact Sharon East at 573-631-4058 or Bill Sonderman at 573-561-4532.

Azalea events begin Thursday, May 1 with the Prince and Princess Pageant in the Fredericktown High School Gymnasium.

Friday afternoon and evening, events scheduled finclude the opening of the arts and crafts and the carnival rides, live music, and the Queen Coronation. Saturday, events begin at 6:30 a.m. and last throughout the day. One of the new events is the outhouse races (see the ad on page 7). There will be live music, a truck and tractor pull, car show, pet show, and much more.

SMTS will provide shuttle service during the festival on Saturday and Sunday.

There will be a complete listing of events and activities in the Azalea Festival Guide published in the April 30 issue of the Democrat News.