The Nokesville-Bristow Ruritans will hold their annual Nokesville Day Parade and festival block party this Saturday, May 17, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Parade
“I got a pocket full of candy,” - Nokesville Elementary student Sammy Smaltz.
This year the staging has returned to Brentsville High School and the parade will progress from east to west along Fitzwater Drive.
As in years past, the parade will feature notable citizens and elected officials, local businesses and schools, classic cars and trucks, dancers, cheerleaders and marching bands, festive-imaginative floats, and animals like dogs and horses..
Tractorcade
“My favorite part was the fire trucks,” - nine-year-old Ava Brown. “Mine was the baseball players on the truck." - seven-year-old, Austin Brown.
According to Ken Hinkle Jr. of the Nokesville Ruritans, the new event this year is Tractorcade.
“It’s a line of old farm tractors that will be going for a short ride in Nokesville,” Hinkle said.
Tractorcade begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning at Brentsville High School. From there it will proceed down to Aden Road, to Fleetwood and Parkgate. The tractorcade will return back to the high school to participate in the Nokesville Day Parade.
4 Wheels 2 Heal
“This has become more of a community service event to keep Nokesville alive and well.” – Ken Hinkle, Sr., President of the Nokesville Ruritans.
4 Wheels 2 Heal will serve as the Grand Marshal of the parade, rather than a dignitary, in order to encourage attendees to dedicate to the worthwhile cause chosen by the Nokesville-Bristow Ruritans.
“4 Wheels 2 Heal is dedicated to taking wounded veterans from all branches of the military to off-roading events. These events include four wheeling, rock crawling, mud bogging, shooting and camping," Hinkle said.
He said their mission is to provide veterans with positive experiences they will never forget.
Readers can donate to 4 Wheels to 2 Heal at gofundme.com address.
“Money raised helps pay for food, registration fees and lodging,” Hinkle said.
Moreover, 100 percent of donations goes directly towards paying for wounded veterans, their caregivers and the costs involved with their 4 Wheels 2 Heal travels.
Citizens of the Year
“[It’s] very exciting, and very humbling; and I was very honored to be asked by the Ruritans [to be 2012 Grand Marshal],” – Brentsville representative for the Prince William County School Board, Gil Trenum
Rather than a Grand Marshal, this year's parade will feature 4 Wheels to Heal. Citizen of the Year is Patti McKay; Business of the Year is the Chuckwagon Restaurant in Nokesville; Nokesville Ruritan of the Year is Ken Hinkle, Jr.; Bristow Ruritan of the Year is Katja Fyock.
Brentsville High School has selected Latin teacher Matt Carbo for Teacher of the Year. T. Clay Wood Elementary has selected Nancy Weaver, Jennifer Ramsey and Kristen Putman. They have also been nominated for the Prince William Teacher of the Year award and Washington post Agnes Meyer Teacher of the Year Award. The Teacher of the Year from Nokesville Elementary School has not yet been announced.
Food and Festival
“Usually after the parade, we have a big rush [on cupcakes],” - Aubergine Chef/ Nokesville resident Jason Shriner.
After the parade, attendees are invited to stick around to experience food, meet with vendors and enjoy entertainment. Most of the vendors will be located in or around the grounds of Nokesville Elementary School on Fitzwater Drive.
The block party is also a great opportunity for Nokesville residents to come together. In many ways, residents describe it as a kind of reunion.
Organizing and Parking
“I graduated in 1975, and I see people I haven’t seen in years,” – Greg Stanley, Nokesville Lions.
Organizations planning to participate should arrive at Brentsville District High School before 10 a.m. to get in line.
This year, the Fitzwater Drive will open shortly following he parade so people do not end up stranded on the road. Pedestrians are asked to be careful and walk on the sidewalks during that time. To make it safer for attendees, Nokesville Day attendees the vendors have been clustered near Nokesville Elementary School.
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