Published: October 14, 2009 09:11 am      

61st annual Clinton Mardi Gras parade is Oct. 26

CLINTON — The Clinton Mardi Gras Association has announced the 61st parade will take place Monday, Oct. 26, starting at 6 p.m. from the Clinton County Courthouse.

The theme is “A Pumpkin in Paris.” The rain, snow, sleet or cold date is Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The parade proceeds south on Second Street to Fifth Avenue South, where it will turn west one block and then north again on Third Street. The parade ends at Clinton Park, the corner of Fourth Avenue South and South Third Street.

Please join the viewing of the parade on Second Street anywhere south of the courthouse.

The marching bands of the area participating in the parade are Clinton High School, Washington Middle School, Lyons Middle School, Camanche High School and Camanche Middle School.

Tradition continues as the Mardi Gras committee selects a grand marshal to reign over the parade. This is a special person who gives a tremendous amount of time and talent to the Clinton area.

The committee is proud to announce that Jean Roeder will be this year’s marshal. She is very involved with Easter Seals and the Clinton Humane Society.

The origin of the Mardi Gras parade was to channel the energies of would-be mischief makers and keep them busy in positive, wholesome ways. The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and Clinton Police Department have always been involved with the parade.

Past programs along with the parade have included window painting, coloring contests, middle and high school dances and yard art contests.

The 61st parade will reintroduce a coloring contest for grades kindergarten through second and third through fifth.

Copies have been distributed through the schools and should be returned to the Clinton Public Library no later than Friday, Oct. 23.

The winner will ride in the parade.

The committee is also introducing a Halloween Light Contest. Your yard could win the $100 first place or $50 second place prize.

Deadline for applications is Oct. 19. Judging will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The Mardi Gras Association awards cash prizes for floats and individual entries. In hopes of increasing participation, organizers have moved the larger floats carried by semis into their own category and they will only compete against themselves. There will then be separate awards for other motorized floats and walking units.

The judges will be located at the Mediacom corner.

Mediacom will broadcast Clinton’s 61st Mardi Gras Parade and the anchors for the event will be Rachel Vopatek and Wayne Larkey.

The parade continues year to year thanks to the support of community merchants, organizations and parade friends. The annual cost for the parade is approximately $2,500. Donations may be made to: Clinton Mardi Gras Association, Box 1972, Clinton, IA 52733.

For more information, contact parade co-chairs Jean Buikema at 242-7895 or Mary Jo Dopson at 242-1025. Parade applications are now available at Clinton Printing, the Clinton Public Library and Gateway Travel and Cruise.

Deadline for applications is Oct.23.