Washington County Fair kicks off with parade
Photo by Evan Bevins Marietta cheerleader Maycee Kiggans, left, accepts a bag of popcorn from Josie Young with the Celebration Center as the Washington County Fair parade passes the church on Front Street Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins From left, 2024 Ohio River Sternwheel Festival Little Mr. Sternwheel Jacob Ellison, Queen Genevieve XLVIII Amanda Rauch and Little Miss Sternwheel Adalyn Duley ride in the Washington County Fair parade Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins Parkersburg resident Jordan Singer and her 1 ½-year-old son Jameson watch as the Washington County Fair parade approaches Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins The Marietta High School Wall of Sound’s percussion section keeps the beat as they move up Front Street Saturday in the Washington County Fair parade.
Photo by Evan Bevins The Belpre High School marching band performs “Hang On Sloopy” during the Washington County Fair parade on Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins Cheryl Klintworth throws candy at a cornhole board set up by Waterford resident Crimson Gribble as she walks up Front Street with the Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVACR Local 168 unit in the Washington County Fair parade on Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins Williamstown resident Maya Anderson tries to catch a sucker thrown from the Marietta Education Association trailer by first-grade teacher Cindy Burton during the Washington County Fair parade on Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins Marietta cheerleader Maycee Kiggans, left, accepts a bag of popcorn from Josie Young with the Celebration Center as the Washington County Fair parade passes the church on Front Street Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins From left, 2024 Ohio River Sternwheel Festival Little Mr. Sternwheel Jacob Ellison, Queen Genevieve XLVIII Amanda Rauch and Little Miss Sternwheel Adalyn Duley ride in the Washington County Fair parade Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins Parkersburg resident Jordan Singer and her 1 ½-year-old son Jameson watch as the Washington County Fair parade approaches Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins The Marietta High School Wall of Sound’s percussion section keeps the beat as they move up Front Street Saturday in the Washington County Fair parade.
Photo by Evan Bevins The Belpre High School marching band performs “Hang On Sloopy” during the Washington County Fair parade on Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins Cheryl Klintworth throws candy at a cornhole board set up by Waterford resident Crimson Gribble as she walks up Front Street with the Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVACR Local 168 unit in the Washington County Fair parade on Saturday.
Photo by Evan Bevins Williamstown resident Maya Anderson tries to catch a sucker thrown from the Marietta Education Association trailer by first-grade teacher Cindy Burton during the Washington County Fair parade on Saturday.
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Many spectators at Saturday's Washington County Fair parade weren't there as passive observers.
Rather than try to catch candy tossed by units heading up Front Street to the county fairgrounds, Waterford resident Crimson Gribble and her family offered a target - a cornhole board.
"It's better than getting pelted with candy," Gribble laughed. "It gives them a goal."
Many people accepted the challenge, though not all were successful.
"Is that regulation?" joked one man walking with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 972 after the candy he tossed failed to find its mark.
"Don't worry; we'll make the hole bigger for you next year," Gribble shot back.
She and her family have had the board for a couple of years, taking it to the Barlow Fair parade last year.
"We said, 'You know what? We'll just haul it with us'" to Saturday's parade, she said.
Williamstown resident Maya Anderson, 7, watched the parade from in front of her grandmother's house on Front Street. When a candy-dispensing group came by, she held a box on top of her head and invited them to toss the treats into it.
Members of the Celebration Center further up the street decided it was better to give than receive, handing out bottled water, hot dogs and popcorn to parade participants - and the folks who drove through after the procession ended.
"They come right by our church, and we're just out here to show 'em Jesus loves 'em and we do too," said Gordie Deer, the Celebration Center pastor. He called Saturday "a great day" for the church.
Over on Second Street, a couple of houses had yard sales set up.
Marietta resident Gabi Lelie and her friend Joy Roberts from Wirt County said they chose Saturday for a sale because it was a holiday weekend, not thinking about people being lined up just one block over possibly increasing their traffic.
"The parade was a bonus," Lelie said.
participating. Jim Woodruff said he has still comes "to look at the cattle and meet the people."