Letter to the Editor: Consider earlier start to parade

Good idea.

Good letter, Miranda. The start time is a decision taken by parada organizers. It's an arbitrary decision and there's likely no compelling reason for starting when it has. You've made the case for starting earlier but just as you've mentioned the drive time after the parade, the planners must allow for drive time at the front end for people and participants to get to Mercersburg and form up for the parade.

I think they just like to wait til dark...

But - I wondered if they forgot about Daylight savings time...??

Im sure your kiddies bio-clocks didnt change that fast...

"Fall back" - for all intents and purposes - it was a 7PM start!

The Mayor does not care! In fact he will make it later if you complain.

A Talking Horse wrote:

I think they just like to wait til dark...
But - I wondered if they forgot about Daylight savings time...??
Im sure your kiddies bio-clocks didnt change that fast...
"Fall back" - for all intents and purposes - it was a 7PM start!

Hello...fall back? So it was a 10pm start.....duh

what wrote:

<quoted text>
Hello...fall back? So it was a 10pm start.....duh

Think about it...we set the clocks back. Todays 8pm is yesterdays 9pm.

i live in mercersburg and i hate the fact that the parade starts at 8:00. This year it didn't get started until 8:15. We left before the parade was over. And my elementary school age kids didn't get to bed until 10:00. They could even consider 7:30. Mercersburg does things the dumb way. They have trick or treat on Sun. evening. Which is the most studipest thing I've ever heard of. They get people from everywhere else coming in. And then half the people don't even turn their porch lights on because it's on a Sun.

what wrote:

<quoted text>
Hello...fall back? So it was a 10pm start.....duh

hah - your're right. sorry

More coffee...

I'm for 7 p.m. We have done this parade for 6 years now and have 3 more to go! Why not poll the participants?

Starting the parade at 8:00 has always been a tradition but traditions can change. I'm not sure if the starting time is at the discretion of Mayor Zeger or the Lions Club but, certainly, it can be changed. I think a lot of the reasoning in the past had to do with the fact that a majority of the floats come from Hagerstown, re-used from the Mummers Parade which is two days prior. In addition, it's a weekday evening and starting the parade at 8:00 allows for meal and travel time. 7:00 would be a good time - people have already gathered. In fact, lots of people set up their chairs and blankets Sunday evening and Monday morning. As for the comment about trick or treating on a Sunday - good luck getting that changed. Mayor Zeger apparently thinks that by keeping it on a Sunday, he will garner many votes and political support in that pretigious position as Mayor of a borough. There ought to be an age limit imposed on trick or treaters as well - it's fine to have kids from the surrounding townships come into Mercersburg but I've seen the teenagers and the people who don't even dress in a costume sticking their bags out for candy! It's outrageous. Sounds like a community uprising is in order here...

I have complained about this every year for 5 years. I sent a letter to the organizer who seems to really want to do the best - fantastic organization!! I really hope this changes to an earlier time.

Montgomery Township wrote:

I think a lot of the reasoning in the past had to do with the fact that a majority of the floats come from Hagerstown, re-used from the Mummers Parade which is two days prior.

are they still using horses to get the floats from Hagerstown to Mercersburg? Just joking :)

My daughter was in the parade also, and I completly agree that this parade should start sooner. Until we got home and got her warmed up and put to bed, it was ten o'clock. She's only 8, and was not exactly pleasant the next day! I have been aggravated by this parade since I was in high school and marched with the band. It is a very nice parade, with lots of entries. Perhaps more people would enter and more people would attend if they changed the time to a decent hour.

Why don't just eliminate sending the band?

I agree. It's a great parade and my kids were in it for years, but I always wondered why it was so late. I support 7:00.
Even for people who just want to watch and have to work the next day, the earlier start gets them home, settled down and in bed at a reasonable time.

uh - I don't think "tone deaf" read the comments and article correctly - this wasn't about "sending the band".....this was about the younger children who were either in the parade or watching the parade. "The band" was only mentioned when stating how long it would take some of the kids to return to their homes....and that was truly an understatement. No one considered how long it takes to get back out of Mercersburg after the parade to even start the trek home, whether it be right there in Mercersburg, or Chambersburg, Waynesboro, etc. I agree, the start time would be nice earlier, and it is dark by 5:30, that shouldn't even be a consideration.

What were the parade results? How did the bands do? I haven't seen anything in the paper.

I remember one year when my daughter was in the Faust band and even though I got on the road easily to leave after the band went by, there was an accident and I was unable to get out of Mercersburg because the traffic was backed up everywhere. This parade should start earlier-until kids get home it is way too late. Some people with young children don't even attend because they know how late it will go.

Give me a break! Dont go! I participated in the parades and went to see my kids in CASHS Band and they never complained!

Carrie wrote:

uh - I don't think "tone deaf" read the comments and article correctly - this wasn't about "sending the band".....this was about the younger children who were either in the parade or watching the parade. "The band" was only mentioned when stating how long it would take some of the kids to return to their homes....and that was truly an understatement. No one considered how long it takes to get back out of Mercersburg after the parade to even start the trek home, whether it be right there in Mercersburg, or Chambersburg, Waynesboro, etc. I agree, the start time would be nice earlier, and it is dark by 5:30, that shouldn't even be a consideration.

I think you are not understanding my point. If the decision makers are unresponsive to an individual's request regarding a time change, the band(s)can make a sttement by not participating. If the people "in" the parade refuse to participate then accomodations are more likely to be considered.