The 75th Southeast Arkansas District Livestock and Rodeo Parade brought out scores of people cheering for student organizations and a host of other groups on Thursday afternoon in Pine Bluff.
The procession started at the intersection of Fifth Street and Convention Center Drive and continued toward the end at Cherry Street. A muggy afternoon and temperature in the upper 80s did not deter attendance.
The parade did not take place along Main Street this year because of a partially collapsed roof at the former Sahara Temple at 620 S. Main St. Organizers said they did not want to jeopardize the safety of the participants or observers.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff marching band entertained the crowds with carefully choreographed routines. The procession featured the Pine Bluff Police Department, Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services, the American Red Cross, social service organizations, Jefferson County student bands, politicians and prospective politicians.
The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters was among the organizations taking part in the procession. The organization educates children ages three to five in preparation for kindergarten and first grade, coordinator Cathy Taylor said.
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“Our mission is educational,” Taylor said. “We service Dollarway, Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel, White Hall, Redfield, Fordyce, Stuttgart and Star City.”
Pilgrim Outreach Ministries board of directors chairman Lula Dickson sought to share a message of preventing underage drinking. The ministry received a grant of $15,000 per year for five years from the Arkansas Department of Human Services to educate minors about the dangers of alcohol.
“Our strategy today is the dissemination of materials to people along the parade route,” Dickson said. “We are just starting and will gauge our success by the degree to which people are receptive.”
She drove a van with program participants Jaxson Davis of White Hall, Alexis Goins of Pine Bluff and Michelle Jones of Pine Bluff who held a banner bearing their message. The ministry has signed up 50 students ages 12 to 20 thus far.
Taye Johnson took in the procession with her daughters Johneice Johnson and Janessa Johnson.
“We try to come to the parade every year,” Johnson said. “This is a great outing for families to enjoy.”
Glenda Reeves cheered for the procession of students playing drums, tubas, trumpets, trombones, flutes and clarinets. Whenever there is a parade, she does not miss it. She was initially concerned that the new route would not be wide enough to accommodate the participants. Once she arrived, she decided it worked.
“One hundred years ago I used to be a majorette,” she said with a smile. “I would march with my baton.”