Old Threshers announces music and grand marshals

MT. PLEASANT — An excited crowd gathered at Temple Theater Wednesday night for the Midwest Old Threshers Association annual Alive After Five event in which they announced the main stage musical acts and Harvest Day Parade Grand Marshals for this year’s Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.

After enjoying a dinner served by 2023 Miss Sweet 16 Charissa Wissman and Miss Sweet 16 runner-up Megan Lee, the crowd settled in for the musical act announcement via a movie on the big screen.

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Aerial shots of Old Threshers built the nostalgia and set the scene for the announcement of the four country band that will take to the stage.

Thursday, Aug. 29 The Oak Ridge Boys, known for their double-platinum single “Elvira,” and other songs like “Bobbie Sue,” “American Made,” and “So Fine,” will kick off music on the KILJ stage as they return more than 30 years after their performance at Old Threshers in 1992.

Stopping in Mt. Pleasant as part of their 50th Anniversary and Farewell Tour, The Oak Ridge Boys will perform the first night of the reunion with Ben James filling in for Joe Bonsall.

The following night, Friday, Aug. 30, Chris Cagle will take to the stage. Cagle is known for songs such as “Let There be Cowgirls,” “Take it Like a Man,” and “Chicks Dig It.”

Returning after just over 20 years, country duo LOCASH will bring songs like “I know Somebody,” “I Love This Life,” and “C.O.U.N.T.R.Y.” to the main stage of the Old Threshers Reunion, Saturday, Aug. 31.

Rounding out the weekend’s main stage music, The Frontmen will bring nostalgic country music favorites from lead singers Larry Stewart of Restless Heart, Richie McDonald of Lonestar, and Tim Rushlow of Little Texas. Between the three of them, The Frontmen have collectively sold over 30 million records and made over 30 major hits, and they’ll play many of their most popular songs Sunday, Sept. 1 on the KILJ stage at the 2024 Old Threshers Reunion.

As noteworthy as many of these musical acts are, a pair of local celebrity-types were also announced as the Harvest Day Parade Grand Marshals at the Old Threshers Alive After Five event.

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“This year, our grand marshals on Wednesday, Aug. 28 had been walking in the parade for many years, as they have led the official bands of Old Threshers, the Mt. Pleasant Panther marching band through the parade,” Old Thresher Executive Director Terry McWilliams announced. “So, tonight it's exciting to announce Jim and Marlene DePriest as our grand marshals for the 2024 Harvest Day Parade.”

The beloved former band and choir directors at Mt. Pleasant High School will kick off the whole weekend of tradition, music, and fun as they lead the Harvest Day Parade through the streets of Mt. Pleasant for the 2024 reunion in a tradition McWilliams said started in 1977.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com