Published: October 18, 2009 07:59 pm      

Southern Illinois Harvest Fest a success

Staff Report

MT. VERNON — Weeks of hard work and planning came together Saturday for the 2nd Annual Southern Illinois Harvest Festival.

Close to 100 entries from floats, vehicles and walkers participated in the parade, which got underway at 2 p.m. on Saturday, despite a wet start.

The theme for the parade this year was “Remembering 9/11.” Entries were judged prior to the start of the parade and trophies and awards presented for Top Float, Most Patriotic, Best of Parade, Citizen Choice, County Board Choice and Mayor’s Choice.

Awards were handed to the participants at the reviewing stand, on the west side of the Jefferson County Courthouse. Those taking top honors at the parade were

Top Float, Girl Scouts; Most Patriotic, The Illinois Army National Guard; Best of Parade, the Mt. Vernon Elks Lodge; Citizen’s Choice, Angels Cove; County Board Choice, ABATE; and Mayor’s Choice, Casey Middle School Band.

Unofficial parade entrants were aviators, who performed fly-bys of the parade route and the downtown area. The aviators were representing the Experimental Aircraft Association Annual Little Egypt Fly-In and Veterans Reunion, which was held at the airport. In addition to military aircraft the fly-in also featured a number of helicopters, with at least one participating in the afternoon fly-by of the parade.