Published July 5, 2005, in the Kirksville Daily Express

Story by Matthew Webber

KIRKSVILLE - It didn't rain on this parade.

Although raindrops drenched the streets of Kirksville Monday morning, the clouds parted in time for the 3 p.m. parade through downtown.

As hundreds watched and waved in lawn chairs and on curbs along the route, another couple hundred rode on horses, tractors, mini-cars and floats, tossing candy and popsicles to children who ran through puddles in Franklin and Elson streets to fetch them.

As the centerpiece of the July 4 holiday celebration, the first parade anyone could remember in Kirksville caused the chamber of commerce director to wonder why nobody had ever sponsored one before.

"Obviously, the community was ready for some type of festival over the 4th of July holiday, because the crowds have exceeded our expectations," said Director Alisa Kigar, who was excited to have helped bring so many families and friends together to celebrate America's independence.

"Everybody has had such great comments about the camaraderie, morale and patriotism of the community," she said. "It was meant to be."

The parade - with 60 entries including veterans, scouts, beauty queens and the new Home Depot mascot - was one of several events Monday, itself one of several days of the city's All American Red, White and Blue Festival.

Kicking off the festival Friday night, hundreds of people filled the downtown square to eat homemade pies and listen to a Summer on the Square concert featuring Dan Stewart & Pure Gospel.

Saturday's events again attracted hundreds of people, who consumed and then burned calories at a pancake breakfast and softball tournament.

Sunday's activities included a car show, children's games and community church service.

For many individuals, however, Monday was the highlight, with an afternoon parade, dusk fireworks and a concert and amphitheater dedication in between.

Sitting in a lawn chair, with the sun shining on the Rotary Park hill, Don Martin said his biggest reason for coming out was hearing hometown bluegrass hero Rhonda Vincent performing in the brand-new Rotary Park Amphitheater.

"I think it's high time they recognized this girl for what she has done," said Martin, who added he used to play with Vincent and her family. "She's number one in bluegrass."

When asked if Kirksville needs more performances like Vincent's headlining concert, Martin responded, "Oh, do I ever," and praised the new $160,000 amphitheater in the former Swimming Pool Park as a prime location for other performances throughout the year.

"I think we've got an ideal spot here to have them," he said. "I think they should have them all summer long. Whoever headed this up is right on track."

Others in the crowd echoed Martin's comments about the performer and facility, both of which seemed to be a hit.

Jeanne Schilt said she and her husband attended the concert because "we thought it would be enjoyable to get here to see Rhonda Vincent, and we haven't seen the new amphitheater up close yet."

Hoping the amphitheater could serve as a year-round performance venue, Schilt added the facility was both a "great" and a "very good" idea, just like the idea for a 4th of July festival.

"We quite often are out of town on the 4th of July, but I think it's very nice of them to have events for the townspeople and those in the surrounding areas to come to and enjoy," she said.

Other suggestions for the amphitheater included community theater performances and various activities for youth.

Vincent - who grew up in Greentop before going on to make albums, win international bluegrass awards and tour the world - also had nice things to say about the amphitheater and city.

With family members living in Kirksville, Vincent said she never wants to leave the area for too long.

"I have the best of both worlds," said Vincent, after performing with her band, The Rage, for nearly an hour and signing autographs, posing for photographs and talking with and hugging her fans for another 45 minutes or so afterwards.

"I get to travel around the world all the time, but getting to come here, it's just a nice, slower pace; a chance to relax," she said. "I think it keeps me really grounded, being in this area."

Vincent contributed to the festival's family atmosphere by bringing her daughters on stage to sing with her.

She also brought up one lucky boy to sing his best imitation of a train whistle on "Passing of the Train," an original song inspired by the train service that used to carry passengers through Greentop and Kirksville.

After Vincent's concert and before a set by local band Redwing, several Rotary Club members spoke in a dedication ceremony praising the service and partnership of Rotarians, city officials and all other members of the community who helped raise money, donate their electrician services and make the dream of an amphitheater project a recently completed reality.

Later that night, a 30-minute fireworks display in the clear night sky above the NEMO fairgrounds capped the day and the festival.

With the chamber's first attempt at a 4th of July festival being so praised and well-attended this year, Kigar was asked whether people should expect a second annual festival next year.

Thanks to the money raised from this year's festival, people can go ahead and mark next year's on their calendars, Kigar said.

"There's a lot of pressure," she said. "We tweaked what worked this year, and we cut out what didn't work, although there was very little that didn't work.

"We'll just move forward and get it on the calendar so folks know, just like this year, to stay in town.

"We're going to keep them entertained and fed. We'll boost the patriotism and morale of the community from here on out every 4th of July."