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Harvest Day Parade kicks off Old Threshers Reunion

AnnaMarie Kruse

Aug. 31, 2023 10:45 am, Updated: Sep. 4, 2023 1:10 pm

Students for this year’s Log Village Oak Ridge School followed a steam engine in their period costumes. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Students for this year’s Log Village Oak Ridge School followed a steam engine in their period costumes. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
A father places his son on his shoulders to get a better view of the parade. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
A father places his son on his shoulders to get a better view of the parade. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Grand Marshals Bob and Penny Gilchrist wore wide smiles as they made their way through the Harvest Day Parade. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Grand Marshals Bob and Penny Gilchrist wore wide smiles as they made their way through the Harvest Day Parade. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
One student in the high school color guard walked part of the parade route with only one shoe. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
One student in the high school color guard walked part of the parade route with only one shoe. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility staff toss candy to eager young parade attendees. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility staff toss candy to eager young parade attendees. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
The gunslingers showed off their rustic outfits as they waved at the parade crowds on East Washington Street. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
The gunslingers showed off their rustic outfits as they waved at the parade crowds on East Washington Street. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
One young boy excitedly points out the tiny horses as they pass by. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
One young boy excitedly points out the tiny horses as they pass by. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

MT. PLEASANT — Hundreds of people lined East Washington Street as Midwest Old Threshers Reunion officially kicked off Wednesday afternoon with the annual Harvest Day Parade.

As VFW members and other veterans passed by the crowds with flags, the crowd in front of the Henry County Courthouse rose to their feet and showed their appreciate for their service with loud applause.

Grand Marshal Bob Gilchrist set the stage for a parade filled with large smiles, local establishments and all things Old Threshers as he happily tossed candy to eager children along the route.

A few politicians, including U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and State Sen. Mark Lofgren, waved as they walked the route in the bright sun.

Families along the route could be overheard yelling their students’ names as they passed by in the marching band’s second parade performance under the leadership of new band director Brad Cook.

The commitment of the students remains strong as one color guard member could be seen walking the route with only one tennis shoe. The new high school vocal music director Makenzie Kauffman walked alongside the color guard with the lost shoe in hand.

The whistle blows of the steam engines from the parade continued well into the afternoon and greeted many the following morning as Old Threshers Reunion officially opened Thursday, Aug. 31.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
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