Music, treats, more delight Washington County Fair parade crowd – Marietta Times

Henry Snyder, 8, of Marietta, watches as the Fort Frye High School marching band makes its way up Front Street in Marietta Saturday during the Washington County Fair parade.
(Photo by Evan Bevins)

Ask a lot of the kids lined up along Front Street what their favorite part of the Washington County Fair Parade is and the answer will probably be “candy.”

But 8-year-old Henry Snyder thought about it for a moment and said, “the music.”

That was a pleasant surprise to his dad, Jacob Snyder, a former member of the Waterford High School marching band.

“That’s a good answer,” he said. “I kind of like seeing how the bands are doing in the different area schools.”

His alma mater was away at a competition, but bands from Marietta, Belpre, Fort Frye and Warren joined political candidates, fair royalty, local businesses and organizations in the march up Front Street to the Fairgrounds to kick off the 2023 edition of the fair.

The percussion section of Marietta High School’s Wall of Sound performs “Eye of the Tiger” Saturday during the Washington County Fair parade on Front Street in Marietta.
(Photo by Evan Bevins)

Sharon Adams has been a part of the parade since the beginning, helping get it started with the late Susan Amrine. On Saturday, she was watching it from the porch of an Airbnb at Front and Scammel streets where her daughter, Suzi Dickson, and friend Scott Cooper had organized a party for Dickson’s husband’s 55th birthday.

“I’m in for all of it,” Adams said when asked what her favorite part of the parade is, before adding with a laugh, “I didn’t bring my bag for candy.

“And it’s a perfect beautiful day,” she said. “You couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Watching the parade from her Front Street front porch is an annual tradition for Debbie McKnight.

“I grew up here and then came back and been here 30-some years again,” she said.

Watching Saturday’s Washington County Fair parade on Front Street in Marietta near the Ohio 7 bridge, 7-year-old Marietta resident Benjamin DeMille, right, said waving was his strategy for getting participants to throw candy to him.
(Photo by Evan Bevins)

For many of those years, she set up chairs in a pickup truck for her grandchildren to watch the parade. They’re not in the area anymore, “so now she invites her neighbor over to be company for her,” said Second Street resident Susan Westover.

“It’s fun to see everybody out,” Westover said, adding that the marching band music is one of her favorite features. “I just get kind of a good feeling when I hear it.”

Rick and Maggie Moreland were attending the fair parade for the first time, along with their pet chicken, Ophelia. The Morehead City, N.C., residents are visiting their friend Debbie Smith of Parkersburg.

“I gave them a tour of Parkersburg a few months ago, and I told them they had to come back so I could show them the other side of the river,” Smith said.

The Morelands are camping this week at the fairgrounds and plan to stay through the upcoming Ohio River Sternwheel Festival.

Alexandra Johnson, 2, of Fleming, reaches for some candy during the Washington County Fair parade on Front Street in Marietta Saturday. Also pictured are, from left, her sister Scarlett, father William and mother Sarah Johnson.
(Photo by Evan Bevins)

“We’re looking forward to the fireworks,” Rick Moreland said. “Debbie tells us it’s off the charts.”

The Washington County Fair continues through Tuesday:

SUNDAY

9 a.m.: Cowboy Church Service; Junior Fair Goat Showmanship

10 a.m.: Junior Fair Horse Show; Rabbit Showmanship

11 a.m.: Junior Fair Market Goat Show

Noon: Dino-ROAR!; Horse Harness Racing; Midway opens; Junior Fair Market Rabbit Show

1 p.m.: Mr. Puppet; David Huggins (entertainment); Cake Eating Contest; Line Dancing

2 p.m.: Dino-ROAR!; Junior Fair Goat Breeding Show; Junior Fair Rabbit Breeding Show; Face Painting

3 p.m.: Mr. Puppet; Coin Hunt; Ladies Lead and Goat Dress Up; Goat Yoga

4 p.m.: Pickin’ On Country (entertainment); Dino-ROAR!; Junior Fair Lamb Show

5 p.m.: Mr. Puppet

6 p.m.: Market Lamb Show

7 p.m.: SEBRA Rodeo

8 p.m. to midnight: Karaoke

8:30 p.m.: Junior Fair Sheep Breeding Show

9 p.m.: Buckeye Travelers Square Dance

MONDAY

8-10 a.m.: 4-H Pancake Flippin’ Breakfast and Show

9 a.m.: Junior Fair DFS Showmanship/Market Show

10 a.m.: Tractor Tug Pull; Logan Reynolds (entertainment); Horse Groom and Clean

10 a.m. to noon: Make, Take Crafts

Noon: Harness Racing; Dino-ROAR!; Midway Opens

1 p.m.: Nit Pickers (entertainment); Mr. Puppet; Cake Eating Contest; Line Dancing; Junior Fair Dairy Breeding Show

1-7 p.m.: Election of Fair Board Directors

2 p.m.: Dino-ROAR!; Bounce Horse Relay

3 p.m.: Mr. Puppet; Coin Hunt

3:30 p.m.: Greased Pigs contest

4 p.m.: Red Sky Down (entertainment); Dino-Roar

5 p.m.: Mr. Puppet; Skillathon Winner Presentation

5:30 p.m.: A Night to Shine

6-9 p.m.: $1 Skate Night

7 p.m.: Demolition Derby

8 p.m. to midnight: Karaoke

TUESDAY

3 p.m.: Buyers Reception

4 p.m.: Junior Fair Livestock Sale

7 p.m.: KOI Drag Racing

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.