Centralia Children’s Halloween Parade is moved to Evers Field after the rest of the Centralia Fall Festival is canceled and goes off without any problems on Saturday. Photo by Pat Hodges.
After some uncertainty this week about whether it would happen at all, the annual Centralia Kiddie Parade marched off without a hitch Halloween morning, albeit with a few changes this year. Instead of parading through downtown Centralia, the costumed kiddies marched a lap around the old Evers Field. Wamac Mayor Butch Mathis organized the event this year after the parade’s normal sponsor—the Centralia Moose Lodge—was unable to take charge due to COVID-19 restrictions. Mathis expressed his many thanks to the City of Centralia and all the volunteers, parents, and children who helped the event go forward this year.
“It has been a trying year this year, but the resiliency of everybody here in the greater Centralia area shows. It’s a wonderful turnout that we have here today, and it’s a tip of the hat to everybody and their perseverance in making this happen,” Mathis said.
Centralia Mayor Herb Williams praised Mathis for his leadership and skill at organizing parades. Williams says a lot has changed for kids this year, and he’s glad losing the kiddie parade wasn’t one of them.
“The City of Centralia is more than happy to be a part of this. It just gives our kids something that they can get done. It’s one event that they’re not missing this year. That’s the key. There are some other events going on, but we’re just so happy for our kids. That’s our future, and they will remember this long after we’re gone,” Williams said.
Mathis reminded all the kids that they were all winners for coming out this year, but there were still some prizes to be awarded. This year’s winner of the Tony Demijan Memorial Award was Reign Parker Duhon and Bacon. Nixen Pollmann was awarded for Best Float and Jaxson Kruep won the Decorated Wagon category.
Tony Demijan Memorial Award
Reign Parker Duhon and Bacon
Best Float
Nixen Pollmann – The Blur 2
Best Decorated Wagon
Jaxson Kruep
Patriotic
Kaden Bivens
Monsters
- Ethan Bailey
- Hunter Janicki
Space / Aliens
- MadaLynn Wethington
- Olivia Jourdan
Cowboys / Cowgirls / Indians
- Hadley Huff
- Harrison Smith
- Hayden Huff
Comic Strip Characters
- Rowan Winkler
- Landon Glascock
- Samuel Scattergood
Musical Rock Stars
- River Miller
- Logan Korzenewski
Fairy Tale / Mother Goose / Disney Characters
Kallie Roethemeyer
Animal Characters (Pet / Zoo)
Levi McCoy
TV / Video Characters
- Amara Hurn, Bre Callander, Paxton Callander, Ember Hurn, Ashley Hurn, Stacie Hurn, Mil & Zack Newcomer, Patrick Thomas
- Reign Duhon and Bacon the dog
- Teigan & Rya Hill
Couples
- Alayna Jones and Joanie Rinne
- Rhett Meyer and Lane Meyer
- Kyle Peterson and Marc Peterson
Prettiest
- Mya Hanke
- Penny Hicks
- Maylynn Hodge
Ghosts / Goblins / Ugliest / Halloween
- Carter Deadmond
- Fontanez Family
Photos by Pat Hodges
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