Christmas Comes Early To Pierceton
The Pierceton Days festival, which was Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30, had a “Christmas in July” theme this year to honor the town’s Christmas decorations volunteer committee. The theme was evident in many of the festival’s parade entries on Saturday, including Pierceton resident Launda Ewell’s “Saddle Up with Santa” one. It ended up winning first in the other/miscellaneous category. The entry included riders and horses, and as shown here, a float with Santa and others in Christmas garb. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews
PIERCETON — Christmas came about five months early to Pierceton this year.
People enjoyed “Christmas in July,” thanks to the town’s Pierceton Days Festival, held on Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30. The festival committee opted for the event’s theme related to the work the town’s Christmas decorations volunteer committee has done recently to get new decorations for Pierceton.
Plenty of Christmas symbols were present in the festival’s parade on Saturday afternoon, with Frosty, reindeer, several Santas and the movie “The Polar Express” all getting nods.
‘Saddle Up with Santa’
One of those Santas was part of the “Saddle Up with Santa” entry, which ended up getting first in the other/miscellaneous category.
Launda Ewell, who’s lived in Pierceton 35 years, put it together. It included several riders on horses followed by a float with people decked out in various Christmas garb.
She spoke with InkFreeNews before the parade. It wasn’t her first time putting together a Pierceton Days parade entry.
“I do the parade a lot of years,” she said. “I love it. It’s so much fun.”
She gathered together friends for the entry.
“We just put the word out: ‘Hey, there’s a parade. Who wants to come?'” she said.
Most of the decorations and items people wore on the float came from Ewell’s personal collection, including a sleigh that was handmade in Ohio.
“I collect this kind of stuff because I like to do parades, and I like to help kids dress up and (I) really get into the hometown stuff,” she said.
“Pierceton’s the best place to live, and my kids have been so happy here, and they do so much for the kids,” Ewell added. “Pierceton Days is wonderful.”
Absent ‘Mayor’
Another staple of Pierceton Days is the election of an unofficial mayor.
The festival allows people to put their names in to run for the position via a penny-a-vote contest, explained Sue Mort, one of this year’s candidates. Whoever collects the most money is named mayor and gets to ride in the parade and other recognition.
“All proceeds go back to Pierceton Days events,” she added.
Mort, a previous winner, ran against Georgia Tenney this year, with Tenney coming out on top. However, Tenney was unable to be at the festival Saturday due to being out of state.
“So I am playing Georgia Tenney,” said Mort, who rode in the parade in Tenney’s stead. She did carry a large photo of Tenney to still recognize her.
Vintage Camper
New to this year’s festival was a motorcycle, boat and vintage camper show.
One of the entries was Scott and Sirenna McDonald of Warsaw’s 1959 vintage camper.
“We love camping and we love vintage, so this works for both,” said Sirenna McDonald.
The couple has taken it to trips in the state as well as Michigan and Illinois.
Parade Winners
Theme Float
- The RUWM Church of Warsaw’s float “Frosty’s Day at the Beach”
Band
- Wawasee High School
Antique Vehicle
- The Studebakers’ 1956 Studebaker
Kids’ Unit
- Cub Scout Pack 3761 and Troop 761
Golf Cart
- Roberta Fuller
Other/Miscellaneous
- “Saddle Up with Santa” entry by Launda Ewell
Festival Committee Choice
- First Baptist Church of Pierceton’s “The Polar Express” float
Each year as part of the festival, an honorary mayor is chosen for the town via a penny-a-vote contest, with the winner getting to ride in the parade. As winner Georgia Tenney was out of state Saturday, her challenger Sue Mort, shown, rode in the parade in her stead with a photo of Tenney.
New this year to the festival was a motorcycle, boat and vintage camper show. One of the entries was Scott and Sirenna McDonald of Warsaw’s 1959 camper.
First Baptist Church of Pierceton took inspiration for its float from the Christmas movie “The Polar Express.” Their entry, which included falling snow, was chosen as the festival committee’s choice.
J.R. Pennington, left, chose a Christmas and “Star Wars” theme for his parade entry. His nephew Noah Woodcock rode with him in the Jeep.
Representatives of the Menzie-Reece American Legion Post 258 of Pierceton stand at attention as the National Anthem is played at the start of the parade.
People look at a large American flag hanging along the parade route as the National Anthem is played.
Pierceton Fire Chief Gordon Baker waves from his vehicle in the parade.
The town’s Christmas decorations volunteer committee chose to decorate golf carts like Santa’s reindeer for their parade entry.
Also part of the Christmas decorations volunteer committee’s parade entry was Santa, who followed his golf cart reindeer.
Whitko High School’s band marches in the parade.
Whitko High School’s cheerleaders perform in the parade.
Winning first place in the theme float category was The RUMW Church of Warsaw with its entry “Frosty’s Day at the Beach.”
One of the John Deere entries in the parade.
Cub Scout Pack 3761 and Troop 761 got first place in the kids’ unit category for their float.
Warsaw High School’s marching band plays in the parade.
Pierceton firefighters had fun racing each other on Saturday. Shown is Jessie Rose, left, and Felicity Clawson.
Parvati Hoffman makes some new friends at the festival’s petting zoo.
A.J. Gaerte, right, tries to dunk Adam Gaerte at the festival. Proceeds from the dunk tank were going to help Shane Hoffman and his family.
Maryssa Alley, left, and Emily Rush enjoy an inflatable slide at the festival.
At the festival, Kaylynn Gibson, right, gets a butterfly design painted on her face by Jessie Doyle.
Artist Rolando DeCastro, right, works on a caricature of Brittany Shroyer, left, and Charles Shroyer, center.
Liam Willett, left, gets some help from his mother Katie Shomo riding a tricycle at the festival.
