(Kiki's Corner by Kiki Angelos - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

We cordially invite you to participate in the 16th annual Mid-Ohio Valley Easter Parade at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 21, in downtown Parkersburg.

The theme is “Legos: Building on Jesus.”

The parade will be held rain or shine.

Lineup will begin at noon. The only entrance for the parade lineup, and the registration area, is at the corner of 19th and Market streets. The parade will be staged between 19th and 13th Street.

Due to limited space and safety concerns, please have your participants arrive together. If someone needs to be dropped off for the parade, they will need to walk to the unit. No through traffic will be allowed once lineup has begun. There is parking all around on the side streets if it is necessary to meet your unit.

Numbers will be given to each unit at time of check-in to identify them as commercial or not commercial. The number is for judging purposes only, not a place in line. Vehicles that are not in the parade lineup cannot stay in the staging area.

Plaques will be awarded for first, second, and third place for floats Commercial and non-commercial) adhering to this year’s theme in the commercial and non-commercial categories. Awards will be announced in the newspaper and on the 2026 MOV Easter Parade Facebook page.

Please do not have a bunny costume on your float or walking with your unit. There is only one bunny in the parade.

Candy is allowed to be handed out, not thrown.

I’m very proud to announce that the Easter Parade is a family friendly event, and all the participants must behave appropriately for children.

This parade is something we take extra pride in, and my wonderful committee is working with me to make it a huge success.

You still have time to participate. We like to have churches participate since Easter is such a religious holiday. We also would love to have school participation, businesses, individuals, horses, dogs, dancing groups, bands, politicians, princesses and queens and children of all ages. Hopefully, it will be a beautiful day, and the whole parade will be televised.

Judges will be on the corner of Eighth and Market streets to judge the floats, commercial and non-commercial, so be creative and use your imagination. The judges will give beautiful plaques to first, second and third place in each category! Awards will be announced in the newspaper and on the 2026 MOV Easter Parade Facebook page.

Come out and enjoy the day. I’m sure you will know someone in the parade – a family member, your church people, your grandchildren and children, etc. We are excited to have both the Parkersburg High School Big Red Band and the Parkersburg South High School Patriots Band, and many other groups from both schools!

Also performing in this year’s parade is Parkersburg teen Luke Colombo, who recently received a golden ticket to Hollywood Week on “American Idol.” Follow Luke on social media for exciting updates, upcoming tour dates and news as he prepares to enter the studio and begin releasing his original music. With more than 50 original songs written, this is just the beginning for this rising young artist.

I put all my energy into this parade because I know we welcome the beginning of the Easter season. It is very important to me and I’m sure to all of you as well.

(If you’re not on the computer and you’re out and about, stop by at the freestanding Chick-fil-A or at Chik-fil-A or Auntie Anne’s in the mall to pick up an application and get all the information that you need and mail it in. Really we’re not turning anyone down, even if you come the day of the parade, as long you are prepared to participate — and as long as everything is appropriate for the parade — we will accept you!)

So if I don’t see you before, I will see you at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 21, in downtown Parkersburg. For any questions, call 304-615-5454 or 304-615-1736.

Starting Sunday, stop by the mall in front of Auntie Anne’s to see the beautiful hats many children and adults decorated for the annual Easter hat and bonnet contest.

Also on Sunday, don’t forget to come and enjoy the beautiful West Virginia Symphony concert at Blennerhassett Middle School featuring “Music from the Big Screen.” Doors open at 1 p.m. and the concert starts at 2:30. Children enter free with a parent. Let’s educate our community children with good classical music.

The next event is the same day as the parade. At 6 p.m. Saturday, March 21, I will be a judge for the annual Lip Sync Battle at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. You don’t want to miss it. It’s so much fun to see so many talented local individuals and groups participating. It’s one of the Actors Guild’s fundraisers, and I guarantee you will have a marvelous time.

Sunday, March 22, is the annual Wood County Society telethon, a day you can see your money go to a great cause. I will be live on TV from 5:30 to 6:30 on the VIP hour to take your pledge and thank you personally.

Two spring Easter celebrations are happening on Tuesday, March 31. One is at 5 p.m. at Parkersburg South High School, and the other is 6 p.m. at Parkersburg High School, with the annual egg hunt, sponsored by Elks Lodge 198 and featuring 4,000 filled Easter eggs and the giveaway of two children’s bicycles. There will be cookies for everyone, with a variety of entertainment that I will announce later on .

Mark your calendar, and make sure you attend those events. We are very fortunate that our town has so many possibilities for us to get entertained, get educated and help others. We are also very lucky to live in a safe place.

Many blessings to all.

Till next week.

***

Lent Stewed Cabbage

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

3 cups fresh green cabbage, chopped

1 cup celery, thinly sliced

1 onion, thinly sliced

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon stir fry sauce of your choice

Heat oil in a large, nonstick skillet.

Add vegetables, cover tightly

Cook, covered, for 3 to 4 minutes

Season with black pepper and stir fry sauce

Serve immediately.

Easy and healthy.

***

Vegetables With Pasta

One cup uncooked macaroni

1 (16 oz) package frozen mixed vegetables

1 medium tomato, chopped

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/3 cup Italian dressing

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1/4 cup chopped cucumber

Prepare macaroni according to package directions, drain.

While macaroni is cooking, place frozen mixed vegetables in the microwave safe dish. Cover with plastic wrap, vent one corner.

Cook in microwave according to package directions.

Drain vegetables.

In a bowl or serving dish, mix all ingredients together, maybe serve warm or cold.

Easy and healthy.

***

Cinnamon Apple Crisp

4 cups peeled sliced apples (3 to 4 medium)

1/4 cup water

3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Nonstick cooking spray

Ingredients for topping

1 cup quick cooking oats

3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 350

Spray 18-inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray.

For filling, combine fruit and water in large bowl. Combine sugar, flour and cinnamon, add to fruit, stir until fruit is evenly coated.

Spoon into baking dish.

For topping, combine all ingredients in medium bowl, mix well until oats are moistened.

Sprinkle evenly over fruit.

Bake at 30-35 minutes or until fruit is tender! Yummy!!!