Parade highlights final day of nearly century-old event
Thousands of people packed downtown Canal Winchester on Monday to unofficially say goodbye to summer with a parade and funnel cakes.
The 97th annual Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival wrapped up its weekend of rides, games and fellowship with a parade that featured military members, first responders and politicians handing out bubblegum and campaign stickers.
“This parade is really just celebrating Americana,” said Larry Flowers, a former state fire marshal and longtime Canal Winchester resident. “It really took off in about 1978, and I think people come from Lancaster, Madison Township and other places because it’s something fun to do.”
There were plenty of American flags to go around, plus coolers and balloons. And everyone stood when the color guard started the parade by presenting the flags.
Secretary of State Jon Husted, U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, all Republicans, walked in the parade. Stivers grabbed the microphone as the parade passed between the Schmidt’s Sausage Truck and the funnelcake depot to wish the crowd “a great Labor Day.”
Before Stivers arrived, a flatbed trailer hauling former Canal Winchester High School homecoming queens went by.
Bill Yaple, the grand marshal of the parade, rode with wife Jan in a new Chevy Camaro. Yaple, 70, who retired as Violet Township’s operations director in 2014, was being celebrated for leading efforts to remodel Canal Winchester’s National Barber Museum and Hall of Fame. The new facility is expected to open in October.
The parade has one labor-union float: The local chapter of the Service Employees International Union arrived near the end.
Not everyone was interested in the floats or even the trailer with the Canal Winchester class of 1997 spraying the crowd with water cannons.
“This is ruining my sleep,” said Steve Russell, of Madison Township, who was spread out underneath a shade tree with his hat over his eyes. “I just had to enjoy the nice, cool grass.”
Russell got up when son David sprinkled Tootsie Rolls onto his chest.
Members of Faith United Methodist Church near Columbus and High streets were sweating as they hauled free bottles of water to the crowd lining the streets.
In addition to the parade, organizers said about 40,000 people enjoyed the three-day festival, which also featured a World War II memorial wall, music, an antique-car show and a few rides.