Pioneer Days Parade features local businesses

Many local businesses will be marching up Main Street with their floats for the 57th annual Pioneer Days Parade this Friday.

“I think about some of the kids that are sitting and watching these businesses go by. This is the future workforce,” said Tessa Masi, executive director of the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce & Eastman Immigrant Services.

“They are having their first impressions, and seeing what local businesses have to offer, or even young entrepreneurs,” she said.

This year there are 120 floats, which is the event’s maximum capacity.

Masi said over 10,000 people attend the parade, but this year 15,000 isn’t too far out of reach. There will be drones for a more accurate count of attendance this year.

She said it is a good way for businesses to connect with the community, and to encourage people to invest in the local economy.

The Pioneer Days Parade takes “several” months to plan, and clean up is fast.

“It is a lot of work, and it is wonderfully worth it,” said Masi. “It’s so fulfilling.”

“About an hour after the parade is done you can’t tell that we had 120 floats go down Main Street with animals and candy because they’re (volunteers) so fast to clean up and bring life back to normal,” said Masi.

Unger Excavating is helping with enforcing safety measures during the parade.

The route was changed last year and again this year because of construction.

Some streets will be closed from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the parade.

She said compared to Summer in the City where there isn’t traffic, this event does, and it’s important for people to stay behind the barricades to ensure safety especially children running after candy.

A new award called Most Engaging replaced Judge’s Choice this year. Other float awards feature which business best highlights the history of their organization, and also the float which is most creative.

She said they are considering different routes in the future.

Masi said as she is walking in the parade, she is already thinking about what to do next year.

South East Helping Hands will be collecting non-perishable food for the local food bank.