Old Threshers kicks off with perfect weather, Harvest Parade

MT. PLEASANT (GTNS) ? Midwest Old Threshers CEO Terry McWilliams likes to tell the story about the time he was browsing in a bookstore last winter. McWilliams saw a copy of the Old Farmers Almanac.

He couldn?t resist the temptation ? the temptation to look at the weather forecast for the first part of September 2016. Three words ? ?hot and humid? ? gained his attention. After seeing the forecast, McWilliams quickly put the book back.

If Wednesday was an indication of what?s to come, McWilliams will be smiling and the Old Farmers Almanac will have greatly erred on its prediction.

Dry and moderate temperatures under sunny skies greeted the hundreds who packed Washington Street Wednesday for the annual Harvest Parade, the unofficial kickoff to the 2016 Old Threshers celebration.

As the crowd was assembling, Mt. Pleasant City Councilman Steven Engberg took a quick glance at the blue skies overhead and forecast a successful celebration. He noted that the extended forecast calls for temperatures in the 70s to low 80s for the five-day event.

?They [Old Threshers] should do very well this year,? he said.

It is said that everybody loves a parade, and the 75-minute attraction had a little bit of something for everybody.

Sharon Schinstock didn?t pause when asked what her favorite part, or person in her case, was of the parade. ?The third runner-up from the 2015 Sweet Sixteen,? she related. The third runner-up was her daughter Ashley Schinstock.

Elaborating further, S. Schinstock said it is ?so fascinating seeing all the tractors and people involved. It is remarkable what people have done to their cars and tractors.?

Darrell Drescher, of Quincy, Illinois, was seated with his wife at the intersection of Washington and Jefferson streets. Drescher said it was only the second OT parade he has attended, but he has been a regular for a decade at the OT grounds.

?I just like all the different stuff. I am an old famer boy, so I like all the old tractors,? Drescher said. ?I have two 1949 tractors and both are original.?

Formerly of Washington, Jake Falline, now living in Mt. Pleasant, said he was looking forward to seeing the old tractors and he also enjoyed the craft items in the park.

?I walked around the square before coming to the parade,? Falline began, ?and I saw a lot of neat things. They have a metal pheasant that was cool.?

Sitting next to Falline was Lane Beckler, 8, of Mt. Pleasant. Surprisingly, Beckler did not answer ?candy? when asked what he enjoyed most about the parade.

?The horses are probably my favorite,? he said. ?I love horses and horseback riding.?

Beckler said his school class took a field trip to the Old Threshers? grounds Wednesday morning. ?We had to walk,? was his only complaint, ?but it was better than the first day of school.?

A 40-year veteran of watching the Harvest Parade, Joyce Welcher, of Mt. Pleasant, says she comes to see the steam engines. ?I also like the horses and just the overall atmosphere created for people.?

Welcher, however, said she wishes the parade would revert back to its former route, which was traveling west on Madison Street and then around the square. ?I think that would bring out more people.?

Nothing can beat the candy for eight-year-old Jacie Campbell, of Mt. Pleasant. She said the Harvest Parade, due to its large number of entries, is the best ?candy parade? in the area. Pressed further, Campbell said she likes the horses and saloon girls, too.

Brian Iles, who plays Toby in the ?Toby and Susie? theater productions during Old Threshers, served as grand marshal of the Harvest Parade.

McWilliams is keeping his fingers crossed as the masses began congregating today at the Old Thresher grounds at McMillan Park.

Tonight?s (Thursday) entertainment includes country artist Leroy Van Dyke and his Country Gold crew, comprised of Mandy Barnett, T. Graham Brown, and Steve and Rudy Gatlin.

Eric Paslay hits the grandstand Friday night.

All entertainment begins at 8 p.m.