Rain or shine, the show goes on
Staff writer
Early morning showers Saturday threatened to put a damper on the day’s activities.
They didn’t. Even after Marion’s 115th Old Settlers Day parade started an hour later than scheduled, horses, floats and hundreds of people filled Main St.
Droplets poured onto streets and sidewalks. Spectators huddled beneath awnings and umbrellas, pulled on rain jackets, and settled into lawn chairs. Some even watched from the trunks of cars, waiting for the parade to make its way from west to east.
And a little rain wasn’t enough to break tradition.
Darin Neufeld said he appreciated that the parade happened every year, noting that some communities have similar events only once every five years.
“Usually it’s shoulder-to-shoulder,” he said.
Saturday’s weather might have thinned the crowd but not its spirits.
Parade organizer Jeremiah Lange said that when he woke up he nearly texted Alex Case, who runs the event, to ask whether there had been any thought of canceling.
But he knew better.
“I didn’t even bother asking the question,” Lange said with a laugh.
Once the parade was underway, kids gathered along cones connected by caution tape, waiting for candy to come flying their way. Parents, friends, and relatives watched from the sidelines.
For first-grader Cameron Rogers, it felt a little like another holiday.
Cameron’s favorite float was the class of 2001’s. His dad was riding on the float and waited until he spotted the family along the parade route before sending a handful of sweet treats their way.
“It’s kind of a third Halloween, since Halloween’s coming,” Cameron said.
His brother, sixth-grader Landon Rogers, had a harder time choosing his favorite part. First, horses caught his attention. Semi trucks then came to mind.
Trucks quickly took the lead. Landon’s reasoning was short and sweet.
“Whenever they’d honk,” he said.
For Neva and Gale Cooper, Old Settlers Day carried an added significance. The couple celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary Saturday — at a celebration that has been part of their lives for years.
They’ve known each other since they were 5 and grew up as neighbors. They come to Old Settlers Day every year, and this year they planned to spend their anniversary there, too.
Rain or shine, they weren’t looking for anything fancy.
The parade was only one part of the day’s festivities.
Celebrations continued with a picnic in Central Park and a performance by the Marion High School band. Kids took part in activities that included an egg-toss “world championship,” while reunions brought former classmates together.
Graduates from classes ending in 1 and 6, beginning with the class of 1946, gathered to reconnect and revisit old memories.
Saturday’s weather was little more than an inconvenience, but for the Coopers, it simply was another Old Settlers Day — and another anniversary to celebrate.
“No frills for us,” Neva Cooper said.