Residents watch the Nokesville Day Parade held May 17, 2014.This year’s Nokesville Day offers some new exciting changes, including the chance to win $1,000 in Cowpie Bingo.
Every year, for about as far back as anyone can remember, Nokesville Day and the Nokesville Day Parade proved to be a fun celebration that brought the community together.
Due to bad weather, the 2016 Nokesville Day Parade and surrounding activities have been moved to this Saturday, May 28, over Memorial Day Weekend.
The parade begins at 11 a.m. As it did last year, it follow a route that begins at The Nokesville School at 12375 Aden Road and heads north along the access road towards Brentsville District High School, across from the intersection of Fitzwater Drive.
The route changed in 2015 when the Aden Bridge closed. The new route is safer for pedestrians since it does not cross the railroad tracks. There will be parking for attendees at the high school; whereas participants should gather at The Nokesville School.
Ken Hinkle, Jr., President of the Nokesville-Bristow Ruritans, the organization that hosts Nokesville Day, said the shortened route offers advantages for vendors.
“That was a good thing for us, because we were able to put all the vendors in one location, and they liked that,” Hinkle said.
The vendors will be located at Brentsville District High School, where they will be selling food, crafts and auction baskets. There will also be games to participate in, and something for everyone.
Hinkle expects the parade will be a crowd-pleasure.
Attendees can expect to see some of their favorites, including area high school marching bands, animals, trucks and classic cars, dancers, cheerleaders and colorful themed floats. The floats and marchers represent local businesses, churches, schools, organizations and political groups.
Hinkle said that with the date change, they have lost some participants, vendors and marchers. However, they were able to reschedule with others.
Newly restored Hawkins Barn mural can be seen from Route 28 in Nokesville.The Parade’s Grand Marshal this year is the Hawkins family in honor of their newly restored barn along Route 28 that features the iconic dancing pig, cow and duck.
Along with the new route, another big change this year is the chance to win $1,000 from participating in Cowpie Bingo between 1 and 3 p.m.
The field across from Brentsville District High School will be divided into 25-yard squares where local-celebrity cow “Moozy” will be let loose on the field to do his business.
The person holding the ticket indicating the square with the cow pie in it will win $1,000. Tickets are only $1 each and will be sold during and after the parade until they sell out or a winner is declared.
For those heading out to Nokesville early, there will be a fundraising pancake breakfast at Brentsville District High School from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and the Brentsville Marching Band Booster Club is hosting a fundraiser 5K at 8 a.m.
According to Hinkle, Nokesville Day Parade is a Prince William tradition that has been going strong long before before he moved to Nokesville 40 years ago. It's a tradition he has been proud to carry forward.
The Nokesville-Bristow Ruritans are heavily involved in local charity work, and Hinkle said any proceeds they make would be donated to charities, such as Eagle Scouts, 4H Club and college scholarships; however, sometimes they are only fortunate enough to break even on Nokesville Day.
While Nokesville Day is not usually on Memorial Day, he hopes to have a good turnout.
“We always excited for Nokesville Day and Brunswick Stew,” said Hinkle, which are two big events hosted by the Nokesville Ruritans.
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