Here's a roundup of the USA Days Festival parade, tractor pull and decorating contest.
2023 USA Days Festival Annual Parade
The Heart of Ohio USA Days in Centerburg is seeking entrants for the parade. Monetary prizes are awarded and ribbons are given to any entrants wanting to be judged. We need floats, decorated bikes, horses, cars, trucks, dignitaries, reigning queens from homecomings, fairs, etc. Welcome to all!
The parade this year will honor Centerburg’s Hilliar Township Trustees, namely Eric Cochran, Jason Rogers and Gary Ross. The theme is “Hilliar Township Trustees: Caring for your Park, Roads and Cemeteries.”
New this year is a Cruise-In. Shine up those classic cars and join us in the parade. At the park, the classic cars will be directed into the grassy area in the center of the ballfields, where they can park for the day and visitors can look them over. One trophy for Best of Show will be awarded. Stay all day and enjoy the great food and entertainment.
Our last parade had one horse. We always have had lots of horses and riders or horses pulling carts. We miss you! Please come back! We are making arrangements for the horses to get back to the staging area safely. The parade is at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 24. The lineup is at the Church of Christ just west of town beside the high school. For judging, be there by 8:30 a.m. If you are not entering for judging, then arrive by 9 a.m.
A reminder to all of the new rules put into place last year. To refresh your mind, read on.
We need the public’s cooperation so please read the following information carefully. This includes parade participants and also spectators!
The USA Days parade requires any units wanting to be judged (for ribbons and cash prizes) must be on site by 8:30 a.m. and no later than 9:15 a.m. Anyone arriving after 9:15 will not be judged. Note that the parade now begins at 10 a.m.
This year we have to take major steps to ensure the safety of both parade participants and those watching the parade. If we do not make these changes, the parade route would be changed and shortened. None of us want that to happen. When this information first hit social media, the overwhelming response was that the public does not want the route changed. Therefore, please read and heed the new regulations so that we can continue this century-old tradition.
First of all, if you are going to be a participant, you will not be allowed to throw candy from your vehicle. However, if you provide walkers on each side, they can drop candy into the laps of the children curbside. The walkers should stay next to the curb. They may pull a wagon or cart with their extra candy, etc. If the walkers slow down, you cannot stop the vehicle to wait for them, as vehicles must continue to move in order to decrease the large lapses in the parade. All parade vehicles are expected to stay within 20 feet of each other.
Any children who are walking or on bikes, scooters, etc., must be accompanied by an adult. If they lag or grow tired, the adult must boost them along or remove them from the parade if they cannot continue. We will strive to have walkers at the front end of the parade.
Only selected vehicles/units may enter the park at the end of the parade. An official will be at the park gate to enforce this. Those allowed to enter include the CHS marching band, Grand Marshal float, Cruise-In Classic Cars, and the Little Miss Liberty/Little Uncle Sammy cart. Others may be designated as decided by the committee. All other traffic may exit the parade route by continuing on State Route 3 toward Mount Vernon or they can also turn and continue on State Route 314. By using Updike Road into Rich Hill and turning left, they can continue onto Dill Road to Route 3 and, if needed, return to the staging area or make their way home.
Also, every side street will be blocked to traffic. No vehicle should try to go around or move a barricade to enter the parade route. There will be vest-identifiable officials at each side street to police each one so that this does not occur. Anyone attempting to violate this rule will be subject to charges by law enforcement. This is an extremely important safety issue and must and will be strictly enforced. Also, we need volunteers to help staff each of these intersections. Please contact us if you would volunteer to staff an intersection while you watch the parade. You can also contact us on the Heart of Ohio USA Days Facebook page.
Those who enjoy watching the parade, whether uptown or on lawns, should police their area and pick up any trash they may have. Please do not leave it for homeowners or festival staff to clean up. We appreciate your cooperation in this so that the parade is safe and enjoyable for all.
Buckeye State of Ohio-sanctioned Kids’ Tractor Pull returns to USA Days festival for fourth year
Again this year, the Buckeye State Sanctioned Kids’ Pedal Pull will be at the USA Days festival on Saturday, June 24. This will be located in front of the stage with the track on the driveway. There will be bleachers for spectators, which should make it more comfortable and give better views of the pulls. Registration is at noon and pulls begin at 1 p.m.
The State of Ohio Sanctioned Pedal Tractor Pull is for kids ages 4 through 11. Ribbons will be given to all participants, and trophies will go to the top three places in each age group. All children pull for free. The top three will then be able to participate in the State of Ohio Pedal Full finals at the Hartford Fair in Croton in August. The top winners there will go to the National Pulls at the Corn Palace in South Dakota this September.
Adults 12 and older may also pull once the children are finished, but this is at a $5 fee each, with “bragging rights” as the prize.
The first year this event was held, a Mount Vernon 4-year-old pulled for his first time and made it not only to the state but to the national pull finals. The event is open to both boys and girls, so get there early to watch the fun and cheer for your favorite.
Main Street decorating contest for Heart of Ohio USA Days
The Heart of Ohio USA Days is again sponsoring the eighth annual patriotic decorating contest for all homes and businesses on Main Street in Centerburg. Invitation letters will be hand-delivered to all of these homes and businesses several weeks prior. Judging will take place on Wednesday, June 21, so all decorations need to be in place before that date. Centerburg council members will be judging.
There will be two winners, one residence and one business. There will be a sign placed with the winners so people can see the winning decorations. Each winner will also receive $100.
Centerburg will look so festive for the major traffic that passes through each day. Show your patriotism!
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