Florence celebration goes better than expected
The 66th annual Florence Labor Day Celebration over the weekend went very well, according to organizing committee member Janette Parmley.
She said, "I was really pleased with the crowd, considering the cool weather. Everything had to be changed, but it all worked out and I was pleased."
The pinewood derby was held Sunday inside the ambulance building, and the soapbox derby was run in the rain on Saturday, she said.
A miniature train inside the ambulance building was also popular. "The art show was well-received, too," Parmley said.
The melodrama Monday night in the gym was "awesome, superb. And they only practiced it for two weeks. They were really good."
Jake Tanner Pritchard, a 12-year-old fiddler and singer from Valley Center, performing with his dad, Jeff, was another hit.
Also a hit was Cheryl Doty of Emporia, a Florence native who sang during the celebration. "She has a beautiful voice," Parmley said.
"The car show would have gone better if the sun had shone," she said. "I hope that will be better next year. Lots of them (show car owners) feared rain and/or hail, and I don't blame them with that kind of money tied up in them."
She thanked all sponsors for the prizes and cash donations they provided for the car show. "We had great cooperation from businesses. I'm surprised it went so well, with the cool, rainy weather. There really were no hitches.
"The stagecoach rides went over great, along with the rock wall climbing and lots of other events. We did run out of food again, though. It's hard to plan, to estimate the food needs."
Parmley said 200 pounds of onions were made into onion blossoms and sold.
"Arts and crafts (Monday only) had a good turnout; they sold a lot of items. The Wild West gunfighters committed a 'stagecoach robbery.' That was neat and unexpected," said Parmley.
The Firemen's Olympics was a brand-new event this year. Lincolnville and Florence volunteer firefighters competed against each other in teams, in timed events.
"We appreciate everyone who attended and put up with the weather," Parmley said. "I am so thankful. A year ago, the temperature was 105! Next year it'll be perfect!"
The Harvey House was named the grand marshal of the 2003 parade. Krystal and Jane Timm and Vickie Turner rode in the stagecoach representing the Harvey House in the parade.
