First in a series
SHAMOKIN - Organizers of the annual Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts Parade can hardly contain their excitement.
A rally of registrants over the past few weeks has Friday night's parade shaping up to the biggest in its six-year history. In fact, it's reminiscent of the heritage parades of the past, which has been a goal since the first year of this recreated event.
The parade will feature more than 40 groups, including three high school marching bands, floats, antique cars and the former "Morning Mayor" serving as grand marshal.
"With a number of fire trucks and emergency apparatus, we could have more than 50 participants in the parade," said Pamela Burns, chairwoman and representative of First National Bank of PA, the parade's sponsor.
And Jeanne Shaffer, executive director of the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities, the festival's primary sponsor, wonders if Water Street will be long enough to hold all of the participants as a staging area.
The parade, which rolls out at 6 p.m., is the kickoff event for the two-day festival. The festival is in its seventh year, having operated as a one-day event in 2006.
Kutza leads the way
Parade participants divided up into four sections. The first section will be led by a Boy Scout color guard and several area boy scout troops.
This year's grand marshal will be longtime WISL disc jockey and talk show host and retired Northumberland County tourism director, Tom Kutza. Past grand marshals have included Shamokin Mayor Ron Bradley and Coal Township Commissioner Albert Santor, both now deceased; television meteorologist Noreen Clark; William Shaw, a helicopter pilot for four presidents; war veterans Jarrod Scandle and Julie Nicolov, and entertainers Vic Boris and Irvin Liachowicz.
The other three sections of the parade will each be led by a high school marching band, marking the most marching bands that have appeared in the parade at one time. The bands will come from Shamokin Area, Shikellamy and Line Mountain high schools.
Organizers asked those attending to keep the municipal parking lot at the corner of Independence and Rock streets (east of the post office) vacant to give the bands adequate space for their formation.
Displaying community pride and heritage, participants are competing for cash prizes in five categories: Most Decorative, Most Creative, Best Dressed/Costumes, Most Coal Region Proud and Best in Show.
The parade will beging forming at 5 p.m. and move off from the corner of Rock and Water streets. Emergency vehicle operators are asked to used the Water Street parking lot between Eighth and Market streets to assemble. Those vehicles will be at the end of the parade.
The lineup
The parade lineup is as follows:
Section 1 - Boy Scouts color guard, other Boy Scout troops, grand marshal Tom Kutza, Shamokin Mayor George Rozinskie, state Rep. Kurt Masser, Korean War veteran Ralph Nasatka, World War II veteran Ralph Starr, U.S. Army soldier Jared Bainbridge, antique and vintage cars.
Section 2 - Shamokin Area High School band, Shamokin-Coal Township Little League Baseball, Boy Scout Troop 250 float, H&R Block, Aaron's mascot "Lucky Dog," Clear Channel Media van, Coal Creek Stables stagecoach, Northumberland County Career and Technology Center float, Jack Williams Tire and Auto, Zimmerman Motors.
Section 3 - Line Mountain High School Band, Shamokin-Coal Township Girls Softball, Cub Scout Troops 3254 and 254 float, LIFE-Geisinger van, Knoebels Amusement Resort float, Shamokin Rotary Club float, Bear Gap Vaulters, Victorian Highwheelers, The News-Item van and walkers, Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility.
Section 4 - Shikellamy High School Marching Band; Mother Cabrini baseball teams, Collier Paving racecar, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Aikido students, Elect Ted Yeager vehicle, other political vehicles, American Red Cross Disaster Vehicle, Sump Pumpers engine from Shenandoah, AREA Services and all other emergency vehicles.