Parade marks start of 5 days of family fun

Published 9:17 am Friday, October 17, 2014

The 2014 Washington Parish Fair Parade rolled through Franklinton on Wednesday without any major glitches.

Parade Grand Marshal Isabel Givens rode with family members near the front of the parade. She reportedly has not missed a Washington Parish Fair in her 88 years. She has volunteered in various capacities over the years during fair week.

Fresh off her crowning the previous evening as the 2014 Washington Parish Fair Queen, Franklinton High School senior Destanie Austin waved to the crowd with a big smile on her face.

“The parade was amazing,” Austin said. “All the people were so kind.”

Also riding in the parade atop her horse carrying the colors was 2014 Washington Parish Rodeo Queen Miranda Jenkins. Queens and pageant winners from around the region also rode in the parade.

Senior high and junior high bands and cheerleaders from Washington and Tangipahoa parishes also participated in the parade. The bands serenaded the crowd along the route with selected music.

Occasional high winds along the route near Franklinton High School caused some untethered umbrellas to fly onto the parade route, but the parade kept rolling on to the fairgrounds.

The parade took nearly 90 minutes to complete the route from the Washington Parish Courthouse to the fairgrounds.