Plans for Sesquicentennial parade taking shape

Manchester’s busy Main Street, circa 1900.

Our planning team for the August Sesquicentennial is developing the Friday night, August 4th parade. The parade, which will begin at 6:30pm and run along Main Street through downtown, will honor our 150th anniversary as a village! We have several participants set at this point, including the Manchester High School Marching Band, the Dodworth-Saxhorn Band playing period music, classic cars, tractors, and fire trucks, our Grand Marshal’s car, Facial Hair Competition contestants, and who knows what else!

Vicki Roberts Wurster, Manchester Centennial Queen in 1967, will be returning for the parade.

But we want to encourage all persons, clubs, organizations, businesses, schools and everyone to consider being a part of the parade. Your photograph and parade theme description will be a part of our Commemorative Book to be published after the events. We expect hundreds of out-of-town guests to return that weekend, as part of events like the Facial Hair Competition, or former residents returning to reconnect with old friends and family. So we’d like this parade to be one for the ages! An historic theme to your entry will be great, but is definitely not required.

Please forward your interest and contact information to Ray Berg, rayberg@att.net, or at 428-7705. Your information will be given to the Parade Planning Committee, and we’ll stay in touch with you as we approach the Sesquicentennial Week in Manchester.

Follow along with developments on our Facebook page “Manchester Sesquicentennial Festival” or at www.48158.com/150years.

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by Ray Berg