ALLENTON — Don’t be late, or you will miss it.
The ninth annual “Jack Pait Strawberry Farm World’s Shortest Parade” kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Pait farm, and covers about 40 yards and will be over by 10:05 a.m.
“This is a ‘Who’s Who’ in Robeson County,” said Patrick Pait, Jack Pait’s son and Robeson County’s attorney. “We started this parade nine years ago and it gets bigger every year… . It’s turned into something special. It’s a lot of fun. It’s hilarious.”
The location is 1561 Old Allenton Road.
Included in this year’s parade will be the Allenton Fire Department; Lumberton Senior High School’s marching band; tractors and hot rods; about 15 strawberry queens and princesses; horse and riders; and plenty of public officials. During the event, snow cones will be given away, strawberries can be purchased, and there will be candy apples available. Pait said his aunt, Shirley Johnson, will also be recognized.
Pait said that anyone wishing to march in the parade is welcome. The parade lines up between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m.
“If you have a motorcycle, a unicycle, a dog you wish to walk, or anything else you want to show off, you are invited to take part in the parade,” Pait said.
Also on Saturday, Fairmont will host its Fun Festival downtown beginning with a parade at 10:30 a.m. There will be a kids carnival, bike stunt show, food vendors, arts and crafts, a line dance and step team challenge, classic car and motorcycle show, pro motorcycle stunt rider, Main Street dance party with the Chocolate Chip Band, gospel singing in the park, a rib cook-off, and more.
On Sunday car enthusiasts and their families and friends will gather in Red Springs for the Red Springs Street Festival and Car show. The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature craft vendors, food, live entertainment and other activities.
Call Maggy Morley at 910-988-1315 or visit the Red Springs Arts Council on Facebook at theredspringsartscouncil2014 for more information.
