Sprankle’s Octoberfest kicks off with parade, despite driving rain
SAXONBURG — Not even a driving rain could dampen Saxonburg’s enthusiasm for the upcoming Sprankle’s Octoberfest, which unofficially began Thursday afternoon with the third annual parade down Saxonburg’s Main Street.
Despite the occasional roar of thunder in the distance, the parade went on as scheduled, with nearly 50 groups of vehicles signed up to take part.
“I think this is probably the largest parade that I’ve ever been a part of in Saxonburg in the last couple of years,” said parade organizer Kerri Kadyk, who is also vice president of the Saxonburg Area Business Association.
At around 6 p.m., both marchers and vehicles began lining up around Saxonburg’s Dollar General store on West Main Street, with participants stacked down South Butler Street. Once the parade started just after 7 p.m., the route took them to the Saxonburg Memorial Church.
Leading the parade was a group of ambulances from the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company, followed by cheerleaders from the Saxonburg Spartans youth football team and a group of Civil War re-enactors representing Freeport’s 78th Pennsylvania Company F.
A large contingent of first responders and emergency service vehicles participated, including units from the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company, Middlesex Volunteer Fire Company and Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company.
Although it might have appeared that way, the fire and rescue departments of Shannon Hills, Ark., were not present Thursday. Marc Koszak of Northampton recently purchased three vehicles from that department and took the opportunity to show them off in the parade.
“Five years ago I started collecting full-size fire trucks,” said Koszak, who recently joined the fire department in Northampton. “I like doing this for the kids. It’s a hobby of mine.”
There were four prizes up for grabs: Best Octoberfest Theme, Best Agriculture Theme, Best Group and an honorable mention.
Garret Pavlina and Samantha Bauer of Goosehead Insurance pulled out all the stops to promote their business, bringing an elaborate fall-themed float adorned with miniature geese. Samantha’s husband, Rob, marched along the float wearing a goose mascot suit.
Lynn Penn, along with the rest of her family, dressed as the Flintstones and constructed a themed float built to resemble Fred’s iconic Flintmobile. Penn came dressed as Wilma.
“We’ve done Charlie Brown, we’ve done Ghostbusters, we’ve done a gingerbread house,” Penn said. “It’s just something we do as a family to have a nice time.”
The last vehicle to go was a black bus representing Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market, the organizing sponsor of Sprankle’s Octoberfest.
Despite the driving rain, the organizers went ahead with their plans to conclude the parade with a foam party. Once all the vehicles proceeded toward the church, a vehicle from Foam Party Pittsburgh blasted foam from two cannons onto both sides of Main Street.
“A little bit of rain tonight is not going to stop us,” said Doug Sprankle, owner of Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market. “We’re having a great parade. We want to make sure that everybody has a chance to be seen.”
