Now they want the parade to grow–and more kids to take part
The William Branaman Street Strut People’s Parade, a W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival fixture from the festival’s very beginnings, almost went away for good two years ago when a local trivia night team stepped in.
“A couple of years ago, it was about to go by the wayside,” said Tiffany Sights, a member of the local trivia team, the Periodic Table Dancers, that took over the job of organizing the street strut when others couldn’t.
In addition to Sights, the trivia group includes Vivian Tomblin, Rhonda Gillham, Sam McVicker, Paige O’Nan and Velvet Dowdy.
Sights said when she learned the street strut may be lost, she thought it would be a shame to lose this Handy tradition and asked her fellow trivia players if they wanted to take it on.
The first year they organized it, Sights admitted, “we didn’t know what the heck we were doing.”
But they’ve figured it out and are now trying to get the word out early and often before the June 15 street strut parade. One goal Sights has it to attract as many children as possible to the event because it’s the only Handy event “especially for kids.”
“It’s kind of a kid thing,” she said, before slightly amending the statement that it’s a “fun thing for families and kids.”
She said about 75 people participated last year.
One couple from St. Louis who had participated in a previous street strut returned last year to lead the parade that starts at the Depot building on Water Street, up toward Main Street and around the block, before ending up at the Henderson County Public Library down the street from the start.
The parade starts at 10 a.m.
Before the parade begins, participants meet at the Creation Station on Water Street (which doubles as the beer tent by night) and decorate umbrellas, costumes, wagons and more.
Supplies will be there to use in the decoration.
There will be a street strut workshop for anyone needing a little help with their strutting prior to the parade, said a Handy Fest release.
There are also prizes. According to the Handy Fest, prizes are awarded for:
- Grand OOH-PEE-DO
- Best Decorated/Creative Umbrella (Adult & Child)
- Most Spirited Strutter (Adult & Child)
- Best Decorated Bike
- Best Decorated Stroller
- Best Decorated Wagon
- Best Decorated Golf Cart
- Most Spirited Pet.
