SIKESTON - Sikeston will again serve as host for one of the largest parades in the Missouri when the American Legion's Cotton Carnival parade gets under way at 10 a.m. Saturday.
According to Capt. James McMillen, public information officer with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, the American Legion organizers are working with Sikeston DPS to ensure participants and spectators have a safe and enjoyable time.
At 9 a.m. Saturday, Sikeston DPS will shut down streets where the parade is being conducted, but Pine Street will shut down at 8:30 a.m. for parade line up.
This year's route will start at the Sikeston High School Field House. It will go north on Pine Street to Malone Avenue, west to Scott Street, then the parade will disperse in the vacant parking lots west of Scott Street.
Parade participants should assemble at 9 a.m. Those in the front of the parade may need to arrive earlier.
"We ask that you be on time and enter your staging area from South Main, as other streets will be closed," McMillen said.
The staging for the parade is as follows:
Miss Sikeston / Miss Cotton Carnival contestants, queens, kings, royalty from surrounding towns, Field House parking lot; American Legion line up, Greer Street at Pine (facing east); dignitaries/political candidates (Democrats), Matthews at Pine (facing east); dignitaries/political candidates (Republicans), Kathleen at Pine (facing east); adult floats (being judged), Gladys at Pine (facing east); student/Scouts floats (being judged), Courtney at Pine (facing east); and trucks, tractors, floats (not being judged), Ables Road at Field House (facing west).
Like last year, parade participants are not allowed to throw candy to spectators, McMillen said.
"Sikeston DPS and parade chairmen continue to see this as a safety issue," he said. "In the past, participants have thrown candy to children as they passed during the parade. We recognize the potential danger, as many children will run into the street to collect the candy as vehicles are traveling the parade route."
Candy must be given out by hand to spectators, he emphasized.
In addition, the American Legion organizers are not allowing any "independent vehicles" to participate in the parade this year. This is aimed at those people who are driving in the parade with no purpose or reason to be involved.
"In the past, some citizens have driven personal vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, in the parade and were not part of any political association, school or the American Legion but simply wanted to drive their vehicle in the parade," McMillen said.
Those who have not gained prior permission from the Legion organizers will be told to exit the parade line up. Also the organizers will ask those playing offensively loud music and/or vulgar music to exit the parade itself.