The Theme and Grand Marshal have been announced for the 51st annual Little Egypt Festival Parade.
Parade chair Troy Cannon used the backdrop of the new Salem Historical Museum to make the announcement.
“This year was a slam dunk. Sometimes we struggle to come up with a theme but we wanted to recognize our community’s history. So our theme is “Our Heritage is our History”. In Salem, everyone knows Frank Brinkerhoff is the go-to guy for history and he will be the Grand Marshal.”
Brinkerhoff is pleased to accept the honor.
“My family has been here since 1821 and I’m presenting them and the museum and I’m very honored to be the Grand Marshal.
And Brinkerhoff says history has been in his blood his entire life.
“I started making scrapbooks about Abraham Lincoln before I went to school. I sat and listened to my grandparents and my great aunts and uncles and heard them talk about Salem and the way it was. With my interest in history, I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Brinkerhoff was an educator by profession, starting as a history teacher in the Salem Grade School District in 1960. He later was promoted to Principal of Hawthorn School, a position he held until retiring.
Brinkerhoff remembers Little Egypt Festivals of the past, including one where Hawthorn students made their way down the parade route in their Halloween costumes. Unfortunately, the day didn’t end well with Brinkerhoff having to watch one student for two hours until they were finally picked up.
The Little Egypt Festival and Parade are always on the first Saturday in October, which is October first this year. A day full of activity will lead up to the parade at two pm.
Applications for parade entries will be made available beginning in mid-August. Watch for further details.
