Firemen’s Parade set for July 15

Colorful costumes and bright-red engines will dot Main Street as the annual Madison County Firemen’s Parade rolls into town July 15.

The Tuesday evening event will kick-off the Madison County Fair, which will run until Saturday, July 19. Hundreds of spectators pack downtown Madison each year to enjoy floats by fire companies, rescue squads and organizations from Madison and surrounding counties, according to Madison Chamber of Commerce Tourism Coordinator Tracey Williams, who helps organize the event.

Participants will be judged in 17 different categories including best appearing fire department and rescue squad and best comic and civic entries. The winners will be announced at the Madison County Fair on Tuesday evening.

Parade sign-ups will be accepted until shortly before the parade begins on Tuesday. Lineup for the parade will start at 5:30 p.m. at the north end of Main Street (Business 29). Participants will begin to move at 6:30 p.m. proceeding south on Main Street and ending near the intersection of Thrift Road.

Units and parade entries will line up on Main Street; majorette groups, at Waverly Yowell Elementary School (north of the library at 1809 N. Main St.); and horse groups, behind the Madison County Volunteer Fire Company’s fire house (1223 N. Main St.).

Participants are asked to refrain from using loud devices such as horns or sirens and not to throw any items such as candy from vehicles or floats.

For information and to sign-up, call (540) 948-6660.