Changes to end of the fair parade route

Before you put that lawn chair out to save a spot to enjoy the Putnam County Fair Parade this Friday, you need to know about changes to part of the parade route this year.

If you like putting your chair along the east side of the courthouse square or you like hanging out along Franklin Street to watch the parade, you won't see very much this year.

Because of ongoing construction work on Percy Julian Drive, the end of the parade route has been altered to allow units an easier return to their respective staging areas back on the east side of town.

This year most units will either proceed from the downtown to the fairgrounds after completing the parade route or will return to the GHS parking lot by turning left onto Indiana Street and heading south to Seminary Street. From there, they will turn left again to go back east to GHS or Robe-Ann Park (some units will be staged there).

The only units expected to turn right at the square and head back east on Franklin Street are those originally staged in the Dairy Castle area. Those are primarily the emergency service units.

Also, the downtown reviewing stand has been moved from its traditional location at the southeast corner of the courthouse to the lawn of the Masonic Temple at Washington and Vine streets.

Starting time for the parade (when the first unit steps off) is 6:30 p.m. Plans are for the first units to arrive at the courthouse square by 7 p.m.

Floats to be judged must be ready at the Greencastle High School parking lot by 4:30 p.m. The streets will be closed at 5 p.m., so all other entries should be checking in by that time as well.

Because of the closing of a portion of Percy Julian Drive, all parade units must enter the Greencastle Middle School lot off Veterans Highway, and then make their way to the north parking lot of the high school. Volunteers will be there to direct units where to line up.

Preceding the fair parade will be the seventh annual Parade of Fitness Run/Walk, which will start at 6 p.m. from the south entrance of the Putnam County Courthouse. The route is 1.5 miles.