PARKERSBURG - The second annual Parkersburg Easter Parade with the theme Easter Memories Saturday attracted a large crowd downtown.
Parade organizer Kiki Angelos said 100 churches, schools and other organizations participated in the annual Easter Parade to the delight of the crowd lining Market Street from 18th Street to the Wood County Courthouse.
Melissa Marks of Parkersburg was watching the parade with members of her family and said they enjoyed the event,.
Article Video
Easter Memories Parade
"I really like it and the young children seem to enjoy it a lot," she said. "We didn't get a chance to see it last year."
Also attending the Easter Parade for the first time was Lucy Stephens of Belpre.
Bev Cantwell of Parkersburg said the second edition of the parade was nice and enjoyable.
Article Photos
Photo by Jeffrey Saulton
Kiki Angelos, organizer of the Parkersburg Easter Parade, was on the last float that honored her late father-in-law George Angelos Sr. and Angelos Brothers Confectionery and Groceries.
"I think it was better than last year," she said. "The only problem I saw there were still too many gaps."
Prior to the parade, the first Breakfast with the Easter Bunny was held at the Parkersburg Art Center. Children, parents and grandparents ate pancakes and sausages and the kids met with the Easter Bunny.
It was a good crowd, organizer Debra McGuire said.
Fact Box
And the winners are
Winners in the non commercial floats division in the Parkersburg Easter Parade were:
- First, Cornerstone Gospel Church
- Second, Parkersburg Catholic Family
- Third, Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Winners in the commercial division in the Easter Parade were:
- First, Party Supplies
- Second, Valley Beauty School
- Third, Vienna Child Care
Winner for best use of theme, Easter Memories: Wood County Technical Center.
Winners in the Easter Bonnet contest were:
- Most original, Veronica Fields
- Most traditional, Linda Smith
- Best themed, Jane Mancini
"The participation by the community has been overwhelming," she said.
In the kitchen was Bill Pickrell of Fairmont and John Brownfield, manager of the southside Bob Evans. They cooked hundreds of pancakes on griddles.
The secret for superior flapjacks?
"The batter and that you have a hot griddle," Brownfield answered. "And excellent chefs like Bill and I."
Across town at the staging area for the annual Easter Parade, about 10 young women participated in the Easter Bonnet Contest for the best bonnets in town.
Among those was Sierra Wright, who was helped by her grandmother.
"I color coordinated everything," she said.
Just as the parade ended with units disbanding on Second Avenue, a light rain began to fall.
"It looks like we just made it," Angelos said.
Angelos said she was thrilled to again see the crowd lining the street for the parade. She said the parade has been a dream of hers for a number of years.
"I want to thank the committee I had to organize this," she said. "There is no way this could have been done without them." Angelos said there were many comments about the memorial she put on the float for her late father-in-law, George Angelos Sr.
"Many people have memories of the candies he made at this time of year in his store, Angelos Brothers Confectionery and Groceries, at the corner of Seventh and Lynn streets," she said. "We also had one of the winners of the essay contest The Parkersburg News and Sentinel sponsored, Irene Chumley."
Angelos said she has picked a theme for next years parade.
"Next year the theme will be 'Children in their Easter Best,'" she said. "I picked this since we are blessed to have our schools filled with beautiful children."
Angelos said she mostly wanted to thank the Mid-Ohio Valley Community for their support of the parade.
