A colorful and impressive parade of floats and bands made their way through Salem during Saturday’s 53rd annual Little Egypt Festival, producing many happy spectators and some well-deserved winners.
As this year’s Grand Marshal, Doyle Combs presented his trophy to the entry from Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, which featured a large covered wagon.
Salem Mayor Nic Farley picked North American Lighting’s float as the winner of the Mayor’s Choice Trophy. It also won first in large business.
North American Lighting float wins the Mayor’s Choice and takes first in large business. Photo by Austin Williams.
The Assistant General Manager of the Salem plant Shelby Bodine says they concentrated on 1987, the year the Salem plant opened.
“We have a giant Neon Boom Box which was a trademark of the music of the 80s. We have neon Rubic cubes, lots of color, and lots of fun 80’s music to listen to on the parade route.”
Bodine says the float was followed by some of the vehicles for which they make parts at the Salem facility.
Second place in large business went to Americana Building Supplies. Naomi Brown explained their float.
“We thought about us as a company. We believe in America, we believe in our products, we wanted to make sure that we showcase one of our awnings, and then we have a couple of co-workers who love Neil Diamond music so we are going to showcase that on our float. ”
There were first and second-place winners announced for several categories. Clark Academy won for youth organizations. Owner Jennifer Clark says their float had a homecoming theme complete with football field and little prince and princesses.
“We have all of our mascots here, we have announcers announcing the big game and we have our princes and princesses.”
The princesses and princesses selected at homecoming got to ride in the parade behind the float. The Girl Scouts took second with their entry Girl Scouts Rock.
For small businesses, Moore and Sons Septic Tank took first and Kitty City second.
The Salem Community High School Class of 1984 took first in the school division. Class member Susan Klieboecker says they had a great time organizing all the activities for this weekend’s reunion as well as building the float Back from the Future.
“The theme this year is Music to our Ears so we are playing 80’s music and we are going to act out Ferris Buehler’s Day Off, the Parade.”
The Salem FFA took second with their entry featuring a hay wagon pulled by a John Deere Green tractor.
For Civic Organizations, the Salem Soccer Association took first as two players brought a large soccer ball down the parade route with several trailers pulling soccer players. The Isaac Hull Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution took second.
For baton and dance groups, Southern Illinois took the gold, with Studio 50 earning second.
Donoho Prairie Church led the church division. Youth Group Leader Lindsey Greene helped design the float.
“We did a rainbow arch with music notes and music notes along the side.”
Calvary Free Will came away with second place in the church division.
Always a parade favorite, the Shriners took first in the “Other” division with a display of driving skills with Little Rigs. Balloons By Design claimed second was a large display of items made out of balloons and a group walking in balloon skirts.
A Volkswagen bug earned the Richard Pollard Memorial Trophy.
The theme of this year’s parade was “Music to My Ears,” and the marching bands did not disappoint. Altamont High School again claimed the first place trophy in the high school division. Altamont also earned the award for Best Drum Line. Okawville High School took second place for the high schools. For the junior high division, Iuka Grade School claimed the top prize. Centralia Junior High took second place, and was also recognized for Best Auxiliary Unit. Sandoval took the honors for the Junior/Senior High School Division.
