Cavalcade down King Street draws people of all ages

View larger image Members of the Strasburg High School band make their way down King Street during the 29th Annual Mayfest in Strasburg on Saturday. Andrew Thayer/Daily Recommend This Print This Get E-mail News Alerts Buy Photos/Page Reprints * Breaking News If local news is breaking and you know about it: * Call Us: 800-296-5137 * E-mail Us * Upload Your Photos View larger image Lanndon Wilkins, 2, takes a nap while his father, Brandon, drives a tractor in the parade. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Grand Marshal Carla Wallen waves to the crowd. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image A member of the Sambos USA-Sangre Boliviana troupe dances in the parade. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Wee Baby Miss Mayfest Alexis Miller watches the crowd as she passes by Saturday. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Roberta Alsberry, 95, of Strasburg, rides in the parade during the 29th Annual Mayfest in Strasburg on Saturday. Andrew Thayer/Daily

By Ben Orcutt -- borcutt@nvdaily.com

STRASBURG -- Saturday's 29th annual Mayfest parade had a little something for everyone.

There were politicians, beauty queens, classic cars, marching bands, majorettes, cheerleaders, midget football players and much more on a sundrenched day on King Street.

There was even a Viking.

Eric Freese, 54, dressed as a Norwegian Viking, circa 1100 A.D.

"It's living history," Freese said. "It's just like with the battlefield, Civil War re-enactors and trying to get kids interested in history. I've been doing this for about five years now."

Carrie Urso, 29, and her husband, Dave, 30, of Strasburg, brought their nearly 23-month-old identical twin boys, Chase and Luke, on Saturday.

Mrs. Urso said her favorite part of the parade was "looking at the floats or the old cars."

"The fire trucks for the boys," Urso said.

Debra Armentrout, 52, of Maurertown, said she comes to Mayfest every year.

"Each year's something different," she said.

Inez Strother-Brown, who is originally from Strasburg but now lives in Washington, said she promised to take her nieces, 10-year-old Skyler and 4-year-old Hailey Funkhouser, to Mayfest this year.

Skyler said her favorite thing about the parade was the fire trucks.

Strother-Brown said she liked it all.

"I enjoy parades," she said.

Rebecca Rinker 30, of Toms Brook, liked the vendors, while her 10-year-old son Cody's favorite part was the "Army trucks."

Carla Wallen, who was named the citizen of the year by the Strasburg Chamber of Commerce, was the parade's grand marshal.

Some other notables were Strasburg Police Chief Tim Sutherly, Sheriff Tim Carter and Roberta Alsberry, 95, one of the town's oldest residents.

Each person or group in the parade was greeted by emcee Jay Winkfield, who is vice president of the chamber of commerce.

"I'm known by some people as the voice of Strasburg because I emcee it all the time," Winkfield said, adding that he likes the job because of the rapport he establishes with the crowd and the parade's participants.

Rich Orndorff, Mayfest chairman and chamber president, said there were 81 entries in this year's parade. Orndorff said Saturday's weather was great.

"Wonderful, wonderful," Orndorff said. "Weather couldn't have been more perfect."

Orndorff said between 15,000 and 20,000 people were expected to attend Mayfest over the course of three days.

Counting food, craft and civic organizations, there were between 135 and 140 groups with booths, he said.

"We had probably 30 motorcyclists for the motorcycle ride, which is sort of an informal thing and then they participate in the parade," Orndorff added.

"This is fantastic," Orndorff said. "I mean, the chamber of commerce does this for the community. It is our largest fundraiser to help fund the activities of the chamber of commerce and assist in our mission and what we do for the businesses and what we do for the community. ... I mean, this is truly small-town America, and it's great."