Ford City Hosting Inaugural Labor Day Parade

 

by Jonathan Weaver

Ford City is offering residents more than one way to celebrate during the upcoming three-day weekend.

Beginning at noon September 3, volunteer firefighters and Ford City Renaissance Community Partnership leaders will continue the annual street fair at the corner of 4th Avenue and 10th Street near the Ford City Fire Hall – filled with reptile, bird and animal exhibits as well as a mechanical bull ride, moon bounce and other family-friendly games -, but it’s what is happening Sunday that has organizers excited most.

In cooperation with the Ford City Car Cruise committee, local officials look forward to the inaugural Armstrong County Labor Day parade September 4.

Ford City Renaissance Community Partnership Co-Chair Paul Klukan said it will be the first parade through town in at least 40 years.

“The Labor Day Parade used to be a big thing in Ford City, and from what we can gather, the last parade was in the early `70’s,” Paul said. “What we’re trying to do is bring it back. The theme this year is “Celebrating Community” and that’s what we’re trying to do –bring the community back together. It’s not just Ford City or Kittanning, but we’re trying to bring all of Armstrong County together.”

“It’s a time to bring people back together at the end of the summer – this is the last holiday of the summer – and, as a child growing up, that’s something on Sunday families always used to do. I can remember growing up at home we had relatives coming in. This is what we want to do – bring the families back together, bring them back in town for the last big thing of the summer.”

Paul’s nephew, Craig Klukan – a teacher at Armstrong Junior/Senior High – coordinates the parade.

Paul said families can even organize their own parties for watching the parade. He remembered the parade even having bicycle decorating contests or a pet parade – two features that will be re-introduced September 4.

“We’re trying to cover all bases of what used to happen in Ford City – the bicycle decorating used to be a big thing.”
In those days, PPG and Eljer labor union employees would march down the streets of Ford City, but so would entire families.

“It was a very, very huge parade at one time in Ford City,” Paul said.

Community leaders – including Craig, Paul, firefighters and Car Cruise’s Joe Klimkowicz - began organizing the parade three months ago.

As part of the weekend festivities, Klimkowicz (also known locally as Joe Klink) is organizing car, tractor and motorcycle shows at 10th Street Station.

Starting at 1PM, more than a dozen motorcycles are expected at the community banquet hall.

Kittanning business owner Turney Luke is also rumored to be trying to bring his antique motorcycle.

Custom cars and hot rods can come into town anytime after 1PM to get a good spot for the parade.

Marching through the parade will be several high school bands and marching units, businesses and dignitaries – but also the Seton Hill University Pipe Band.

The 30-person band that can perform year round but generally performs during summer events will actually be performing the second time in the area, according to Pipe Major Josh Dobbin (of Export).

Dobbin said the group performed locally as the Allegheny & District Pipe Band.

Dobbin – who became fascinated with bagpipes at age eight - has played bagpipes for 25 years. He and his wife of two years, JoElla – a fellow piper – have five sets of bagpipes, including a set from 1913 that he will be performing with September 4.

“I was asked to (serve as Pipe Major). I’ve been really enjoying it and everyone has been doing really well,” Dobbin said. “We almost doubled the size of the band.”

Josh even studied at the college of bagpiping in Scotland in 2001.

Organizers encourage more participation from police and fire crews or businesses.

“Anybody that wants to come and be in the parade, they’re welcome to,” Paul said.

Paul said any businesses that want to be involved should call him at 724-763-3974

Steve Hefner and David Croyle will emcee the parade.

Hefner said he would like to see another county municipality host next year’s parade “to show off the different communities.”

Officials are still finalizing who the parade marshal will be to lead the groups around town.

Renaissance leaders began the street fair – full of children’s games, bands and food - five years ago outside the Ford City fire department.

“Ford City Fire Department and the Ford City Renassiance committee got together and wanted to do something over Labor Day. When I was growing up, we always had a big, big carnival in town,” Paul recalled. “We wanted to do something to bring the community together.”

This year’s parade – which is about a mile-and-a-half in length - begins at 5PM at the corner of 4th Avenue and 11th Street near the former Ford City Junior/Senior High School before heading north to 15th Street (near Dollar General).The parade will then loop around and march down 5th Avenue to 7th Street before looping around again for participants to end at the Ford City fire department.

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