75 years hold ridiculously wonderful traditions

WASHINGTON — Princesses, superheros, families, and friends gathered in Washington Central Park, Saturday, to celebrate 75 years of Ridiculous Days.

A jovial sense of camaraderie could be seen in the smiles, heard in the laughs, and felt in the atmosphere of the downtown square.

As children are capable of great ridiculousness, it is no surprise that children were carefully considered in the planning of the days events.

The youngest attendees enjoyed dressing up as Ridiculous day Princesses and Super Heroes as they enjoyed various activities.

Their tiny legs pushed with all their might at the kiddie tractor pull, their little bodies burst with energy as they danced to the music of the Washington Municipal Band, and their laughter wafted through the breeze as they took in magic performed by The Quad City Magician TJ Regul.

Sweet memories were present for many in attendance.

Families enjoyed a combined Tractor and Ridiculous Day parade as they took in the exuberant festivities.

Doug and Annette Chalupa say they’ve been attending Ridiculous Day as long as they can remember.

Doug estimated he has been to close to 70 of the celebrations.

“I used to drive a tractor in the parade for 15 years,” Doug said as he sat on the corner near Washington State Bank ready to participate as an onlooker.

The couple shared fond memories of merchants dressing up in ridiculous costumes and creating an incredibly fun small town tradition.

“What I remember the most is the costumes men wore,” another long-time Ridiculous day attendee Nancy Rash said with a slight giggle in her voice. “The men would wear these coconut bras and grass skirts. Some would wear really kooky hats.”

Ridiculous Days were well timed for Rash and her partner Lyle Moen as they provide stability for Moen’s grandson Caleb Moen.

According to Rash, Lyle’s son is currently at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics being stabilized as he battles cancer.

Much like the Moen’s, Ridiculous Days are truly a breath of joy.

With bags full of candy from the parade, many families set up camp in Central Park to enjoy the music of country artist Joshua Stanley.

As night began to set and families with the youngest children headed home for bedtime, Aces & Eights made sure the whole event ended in a spectacular way.

Normally the Flightline concert at the end of Ridiculous Days is held at the Municipal Airport, but according to Washington Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator Alisha Davis, the logistics of having all of the events in the same place made everything run much smoother.

“We wanted to do it all downtown,” Davis said of holding the Flightline concert in the square. “The concert being held downtown was just different, and I had people asking me if we could do them monthly.”

While Davis is not confident that, that is a possibility, she is certainly excited to see what she can make happen.

“Thank you to everybody that made it happen,” Davis said. “We couldn’t do it just us two [her and Chamber Director Michelle Redlinger]. We just have a great community and great pool of volunteers who help with everything.”

Until next year, Washington will remain the ridiculously close-knit, ridiculously generous, and ridiculously unique small town expected in this corner of Iowa.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com