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Murray marshal for Fair Parade Friday
Sue Murray led the City of Greencastle for eight years, and now she will lead the 2016 Putnam County Fair Parade.
This year's Putnam County Fair Parade is set to step off Friday, July 22 with the theme "Indiana's 200th: Cultivating Community, Progress and Grow."
As grand marshal, former Mayor Murray will ride through the parade route in a carriage supplied by the Arnold Family and powered by its Halflinger show horses. The Chandler Family, meanwhile, will be escorting members of the Putnam County 4-H Queen Court led by 2016 Queen Lauren Johnston.
In addition to the traditional floats, bands, fire engines, horse units and the parade-ending VW Brigade, the Purdue Club of Putnam County will have the Boilermaker Special mascot vehicle in the parade again this year.
New this year will be the appearance of "Old Blue," the 1971 Ford pickup truck used in the filming of the movie "Reparation," shot in Greencastle and Putnam County in 2014.
Filmmakers Steve Timm and Kyle Ham say they plan to be in the parade with "Old Blue" to announce the dates and times of the film's Greencastle premiere and to thank Putnam County residents for their support in making the movie a reality.
The parade route is similar to previous years, starting at the point of Wood and Washington streets at 6:30 p.m. From there, the parade will head down Washington Street to the square.
From the square, parade participants will either turn right on Indiana Street, heading to Franklin Street and a return to their staging areas, or continue west on Washington Street to Jackson Street/U.S. 231 and out to the fairgrounds.
Competitive parade floats are always encouraged. Such floats will be judged in the GHS parking lot at 5 p.m. Friday. Entries need to be lined up and ready for judging no later than 4:45.
First,- second- and third-place prizes will be awarded in two divisions: Adult and Youth. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Judges this year will be Don Beadolato of the Putnam County Assessor's Office, Michele Faison of the Inn at DePauw and Putnam County 4-H Horse and Pony Leader Ashley Underwood.
Even though all the above details have been finalized, the fair parade entry window isn't closed.
The Parade Committee encourages anyone and everyone to be involved in this year's fair parade.
"Regardless of what club, company, organization you belong to, we want you to join us," Parade Committee Chairman Nancy Michael said. "Be creative and have fun."
If you want to be one of these new faces there are several ways to be one: Go to the parade's Facebook page www.facebook.com/putnamcountyfairparade (be sure to like the page to make sure you don't miss out on emergency updates and next year's parade). You will find a link to the registration form there or go to www.putcofair.org the registration form can be found there as well or you can also contact Michael at 720-1974/nmichael04@yahoo.com, Tyler Brammer tylerbrammer_2017@depauw.edu, or Shea Mahoney Sutherland sheams@gmail.com for registration or volunteer questions.
The committee urges observers to set up their chairs and blankets to enjoy the festivities, advising them to "be safe and cautious during the parade."
"Immediately after the parade we have a group of volunteers that have generously agreed to help with clean-up," Michael said. "We also encourage people to clean up their own areas to keep lawns and our roadways clean."
The Parade Committee includes Michael, Brammer, Ken Heeke, Gordon and Lynette Williams, Perry and Rose Wainman, John Jackman, Don Mundy, Shea Mahoney Sutherland and Katie Douglas.
The Parade Committee would like to acknowledge all of the City of Greencastle departments that help make the parade possible.