GLADBROOK - Of the 90 Gladbrook Corn Carnival parades, Paul Lundt estimates he's been to about 80 of them.
"I think it's kind of a tradition in town," Lundt said from his lawn chair along the parade route Friday.
Organizers estimate more than 10,000 people visit Gladbrook for the big parade each year. Lundt was not surprised to see rows and rows deep of parade spectators.
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T-R PHOTO BY ANDREW POTTER
The parade crowd was at times five and six rows deep at the Gladbrook Corn Carnival Friday night.
"Every year it grows a bit," he said. "It seems like people want to take part."
This year's parade featured the usual Gladbrook High School class reunions as classes from the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s all had floats displaying their Panther pride. There were also blocks of political candidates and their supporters with the election now nearly four months away.
Just minutes before the parade, Tessa Dinsdale, of Reinbeck, and her friend Lauren Bauer, of La Porte City, got a taste of some early-season sweet corn.
"It is amazing," Bauer said after a bite. "It's so buttery and fresh."
The 90th Corn Carnival continues with a Saturday full of events.
Children's activities in the park began at 10 a.m. today with other events going on throughout the afternoon including carnival rides.
A swamp blues band performs at 6 p.m. Saturday followed by a classic car cruise at 7 p.m.
There will be a 10 p.m. fireworks show as well Saturday.
The festival concludes Sunday with a church service at 10:30 a.m. at the Gladbrook Theater and a pork loin lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. downtown.