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As 80th carnival nears, parade details released
SIKESTON — As the annual Sikeston American Legion Cotton Carnival Parade takes place later this month, organizers say there are details parade attendees and float entrants need to know in advance.
The 80th Annual American Legion Cotton Carnival runs Sept. 24-28 with the Cotton Carnival Parade taking place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
According to Jim Walton, finance officer at the Sikeston American Legion Post 114, the theme for the this year’s Cotton Carnival Parade is “Eight Decades of Success.”
Walton said that the parade has been around as long as the Cotton Carnival, and that it is one of the largest parades in the area.
“We have a variety of different things in the parade,” Walton said. “And another thing that makes the parade so great is that there is no cost to be in the parade. All you just have to do is show up.”
Assembly for the parade floats will begin at 9:15 a.m., followed by the parade at 10 a.m. The parade route will begin at Pine Street and then north to Malone Avenue, west to Scott Street and then disperse in vacant parking lots west of Scott Street.
Walton said there are parade rules everyone should understand prior to the event.
No bicycles or ATVs (with the exception of the Shiners Clowns and side by sides). Participants will enter the parade at a location determined in advance by the parade chairman. No candy should be thrown into the crowd as a safety precaution to prevent small children from running into the path of parade traffic. However, the walking participants may hand out candy.
According to Walton, parade floats can enter to be judged in the parade, or they can simply participate in the parade and not be judged. There is no deadline to register for the parade.
Walton also talked about those who wish to be judged in the parade.
“If they want to be judged, basically, all they have to do is register the day of the parade,” Walton said.
Walton said parade marshals will be stationed at each staging area to assist with the flow of the parade and to ensure that entries are lined up correctly.
Walton said there are cash prizes that will be distributed to the winners. Adult prizes are first place, $700, second place, $500, and third place, $400; and for students and Scouts: first place, $250; second place, $150; and third place, $100.
Walton said the assembly point will be Pine Street at Sikeston High School.
“This is going to be an election year so I suspect that we are going to have a great deal of political entries in the parade,” Walton said. “We are pretty excited for that.”
There are separate staging areas for each group that enters the parade to line up. Miss Sikeston/Miss Cotton Carnival contestants, as well as queens and kings of royalty from towns nearby, will gather in the Sikeston Field House parking lot.
Democratic party dignitaries and political candidates will line up on Matthews Street heading east. Republican dignitaries and political candidates will line up on Kathleen Street heading east.
Adult floats being judged will line up at Gladys Street heading east, students and Scout floats being judged will line up at Courtney Street headed east. Any trucks, tractors or other floats not being judged will line up at Ables Road heading west.
Walton said he wants to remind everyone entering the parade to be patient and that everyone will be able to participate.
“This is one of the largest parades in the state of Missouri and things do get hectic from time to time, so please be patient,” Walton said. “But most importantly, enjoy yourself and have a great time.”
For more information, visit https://www.sikestonamericanlegion.com/calendar.php