Large crowds came out for the Centralia Fall Festival and Halloween Parades on Saturday.
Parade Chair Butch Mathus was happy with the participation and crowds.
“It was a wonderful turnout. We beat the rain and put this together. We had 37 floats, 8 marching bands, and over 112 units. I’m very happy with the turnout that we had this year. A lot of surprise floats. It came out wonderful, the day events turned out wonderful as well, and the Kiddie Parade was as always very special, seeing the kids in their special costumes.”
The top winners in the 98th Halloween Parade were the Jolliff Family’s Entry ‘Trolls’ that won the Harley Queen Trophy and the Timmons Family whose entry ‘Carnival of Fights’ won the Grand Marshall Trophy. The Alternative Learning Academy won the George Borum Award for having the float that most closely followed the theme.
In the children’s parade, Haley Cullip of Central City won the Tony Demijan overall costume award. The top float was Haunted Gingerbread House with Frights and Delights put together by the Harding, Max, Renfro, Jones, Marcum and Mitchell families. The best decorated wagon was done by Maxcene White, Trent Clark and Duke Clark of Centralia.
New Horizon wrestled the mummy wrap award away from perennial champ Central City Grade School.
Allison Skibinski won both the blind judges’ choice and people’s choice in the chili cook-off.
Linzi Swickard, McKinzi Henson and Adeana Hill won the best dressed pet competition with Stevie Jean, Rokki and Roxi dressed as members of the Wizard of Oz cast.
A plaque is presented to the winner of this year’s theme contest, Elizabeth Hanson. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
