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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Rain dampens Jefferson County Fair Parade
FAIRFIELD — Bad weather put a damper on Tuesday night’s Jefferson County Fair Parade through Fairfield.
The parade was scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., but the Greater Jefferson County Fair Board announced that afternoon that the parade was being delayed until 7:30 p.m. due to a coming rainstorm. Unfortunately for spectators and parade participants alike, raindrops started falling around 7 p.m. and it only got worse in the ensuing half-hour.
Parade floats gathered at the Fairfield High School. Members of Ide Gymnastics were practicing their routines on the street and on their mobile trampoline. But by the time of the parade, all the gymnasts were forced to huddle in the van to stay dry.
Jefferson County Fair Board President Mike Filson said it was unfortunate the board misjudged the timing of the storm because the parade had a good number of entries this year, but a lot of them went home at the last minute when the rain started.
This year’s parade grand marshal was Terry Bonnett, who served on the fair board for eight years.
“He was a very good fair board member and diligent about what he did,” Filson said. “We hated to see him go.”
Filson said Wednesday morning that the rain made the fairgrounds a little muddy, but nothing that would cancel any events such as the mutton busting in the grandstand planned for that night.
The grandstand entertainment for the remainder of the week, which starts each evening at 7 p.m., is:
• Thursday: Dirt drags
• Friday: Quad races
• Saturday: Truck and tractor pull
• Sunday: Crash for Clunkers rally race
Members of Ide Gymnastics practice their routines while waiting for the Jefferson County Fair Parade to start Tuesday night in Fairfield. (Photo courtesy of Werner Elmker)
People gather on a 4-H float before the start of Tuesday night’s Jefferson County Fair Parade in Fairfield. Organizers delayed the parade one hour due to an impending storm, but unfortunately they were caught in the rain anyway. (Photo courtesy of Werner Elmker)
Kids from Ide Gymnastics would normally be doing routines on their trampoline and on the street during the Jefferson County Fair Parade, but rain started pouring during the parade so the kids were forced to huddle in their van. (Photo courtesy of Werner Elmker)
Tractors line up in the Fairfield High School parking lot Tuesday before the start of the Jefferson County Fair Parade. (Photo courtesy of Werner Elmker)
