If you think the Washington County Fair parade is your typical, run-of-the-mill parade, think again.
Not only does the parade officially kick off the fun of the annual county fair, it also ushers in election season and a bounty of seasonal events which are right around the corner. Ah, and let's not forget the leaves of autumn and cooler weather.
Last year was the first year a $10 fee was charged for all units participating in the parade. There were concerns that participation would be affected, but that wasn't the case, according to Jeremy Barth, a longtime organizer of the parade, who is serving this year as a consultant to novice director-in-charge, Paul Fleming.
"The entry fee hasn't really had an impact on the number of participants," Barth said, guessing that this year's numbers will be close to the average of a couple hundred.
The money collected from the fees goes back into the fair board to help with expenses.
"It also helps us to know how many participants we're going to have and what to expect in the staging area," Barth said.
A number of new faces and businesses will join the ranks as well as familiar favorites.
Among the participants expected this year is Ohio's first lady, Frances Strickland, who will be walking with the Washington County Democrats.
"I am very pleased that we were able to get Frances," said Molly Varner, the group's chairwoman. "We started campaigning (to get the governor and the first lady) after the last primary, and I'm so pleased that she is able to come."
Strickland will walk in the parade and will spend some time afterward at the group's booth at the fair talking to folks in the community. In addition to the first lady, there will also be literature on local and state-wide candidates, as well as voter registration for anyone who is not yet registered to vote, regardless of party affiliation.
Varner said that anyone who would like to join the likes of Nate Wooley, the Democratic candidate for county commissioner; Linda Secrest, candidate for the 93rd District House of Representatives seat; and representatives from the Strickland and Congressman Charlie Wilson camps should look for a big group with some vehicles for those who aren't able to walk, usually walking with the union groups.
According to Andy Thompson, Republican candidate and Secrest's opponent in the race for the 93rd District House seat, the Labor Day fair parade is a great way to get out and meet the community.
"It's always a great family-oriented event," he said. "The kids love it, and we always have our calliope so it's kind of a combination of entertainment and education."
Thompson, a current Marietta city councilman who has participated in the parade for the past five years, will walk with area Republicans and will be joined by Bill Johnson, a candidate for the 6th District Congressional seat; Tim Irvine, who is running for county commission; and Mike Hunter, a candidate for the 92nd District House of Representatives seat.
