The beginning of the parade is marked by the National Guard marching down Michigan Street with the U.S. and State Flags. Photo by: Patricia Ortiz.
By Patricia Ortiz
Every year on Labor Day morning Michigan Street is the host of the Blueberry Parade.
The parade begins with two men from the National Guard carrying the United States Flag. After them, the Plymouth High School band marches. Once the guard and the band have marched, the floats, the firetrucks and the bands of other schools begin to roll down Michigan Street.
The parade has always been a part of Plymouth’s Labor Day. Senior Jason Pickell thinks that we have a parade, “to showcase different talents and to advertise local businesses. It is also there to celebrate Labor Day.”
It seems that the parade has been going on since the beginning of time. Junior Pauline Dagaas thinks that the parade has been going on for, “maybe 60 years.” Pickell thinks that Plymouth has had the parade since, “we have had the Blueberry Festival.” Dagaas speculates that the mayor of Plymouth came up with the idea to create the parade.
Labor Day marks the end of the Blueberry Festival. Dagaas thinks that the parade is important because, “it brings our community together to celebrate it.” Dagaas makes a good point because people in Plymouth come together to celebrate Labor Day by watching the parade.
People can imagine sitting on the side of Michigan Street when a float rolls by. On that float is a child from school. Many children and teens participate in the parade. Some of them march with the band, others ride on a float, and some run the Blueberry Stomp. Pickell is one of those young people from school that people are sure to see. He marches with the Democrats.
The floats are elaborate creations that people come up with. Miss Blueberry and many of the other Misses do not go on a float but rather drive around in a car. If Dagaas could create a float it would be, “something really unique and creative.” Pickell’s float would be, “a huge donkey to compete with the Republicans large, bumbling elephant.”
The Blueberry Parade is long gone, but the fun memories that people experienced will last a lifetime.