Fun on wheels: Fair parade rolls through Franklinton

FRANKLINTON — Thousands looked on as the 96th annual Washington Parish Fair Parade rolled through the streets of Franklinton Wednesday morning.

Police said there were no injuries or incidents reported during Wednesday’s parade, which began on Washington Street and then rolled near the Washington Parish Courthouse on its way to the fairgrounds.

Thousands gathered along the route to catch throws, which included candy, beads and cups.

“It was pretty fun,” said Mathew Touchstone, a Bogalusa High JROTC student who marched in the parade.

He said the route was not difficult, and everything seemed to go as planned.

“It was actually my first time,” Touchstone added.

Shelia Homes, a Tylertown resident who used to live in Franklinton, watched the parade with her two grandchildren.

“It was nice,” said Holmes, adding she would have liked to seen more bands. “Other than that, everything was fine.”

Thousands of others seemed to enjoy it, too.

“I thought it was good,” said 77-year-old Estus Thomas, a Bogalusa resident.

After watching the parade and visiting the fair for a short time, he was ready to get back to his camper parked on the outskirts of the fairgrounds.

For 84-year-old Ed Jenkins, a longtime fairgoer, this year’s parade was dandy.

“I thought it was the best one we’ve had in 10 years,” he said.

The parade flowed well, and didn’t have too many noisy sirens,” Jenkins said, adding the parade was well-rounded with floats, vehicles, bands and other parade participants.

“There was a good mixture all the way through,” he said.