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| A May Day float, pulled by a tractor. |
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Floats were often "pomped" by stuffing tissue paper or dinner napkins in chicken wire. Evidently, cardboard and glue are used more frequently now.
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Last
year, I asked my youngest son, Boone, if he was coming in from college for May
Day (our annual spring festival here in Bath County, for those of you who aren't familiar). He rolled his eyes and said,
“No. I’m staying as far away from
Owingsville as I can on that day.”
Well,
he made it home just before the parade started.
“I thought you weren’t coming in,” I teased.
“I
forgot it was May Day,” he replied, with just a hint of a grin.
He
hadn’t forgotten. We sat down on our
front porch and watched the parade together, waving at participants, admiring
the floats, pointing out people we knew, and both of us smiling from ear to
ear.
I’m
betting Mr. Burl was smiling when he wrote this piece. We hope it makes you smile, too. Happy May Day, everybody! ~ Ginger
From
the journals:
The
courthouse clock strikes 1:00 P.M.
Hundreds of people line Main Street anxiously awaiting the parade that
by some fellas is the number one event of the year in Bath County. Older folks are greeting old friends, making
new ones, and generally having a great day.
Children are squirting water guns, often spraying spectators and parade
participants. Camera bugs are all set at
vantage positions to make keepsake photos.
There
are concession stands in front and to the sides of the courthouse. They are broiling steaks and hamburgers out
in front. Parking spaces are gobbled up
early and some people are forced to park a half mile distance from the center
of town.
May
Day! May Day! – No, these words do not
signal an emergency - they signal the parade is approaching! Color guard, class A and B floats, antique
cars, clowns, horses, miniature cars, queen candidates, calliopes, bands,
antique hearses, fire trucks, DES vehicles, Boy Scouts, and farm tractors –
these are all part of our May Day parade.
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| In front of what is now Marley Clark's garage. |
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The would-be May Day avoider, Joseph Boone Kincaid (grandson of William Burl Kincaid, Jr.)
His grandfather would approve of the fishing, but not that Dodger's cap.
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