Just days away from the Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run for Your Life, people are scrounging around trying to get ready for the activities and this year’s new addition — the Parade of Lights.
All entries for the parade with be illuminated with lights, a bright contrast with the temporarily darkened streets around the square.
Entries for the parade run the gamut.
Terry McDonald, with TJ’s Towing company, will be driving his tow truck through the streets with the lights on.
“It’s the truck we use out on the highway for accidents,” McDonald said. “It has strobe lights.”
The lights will be on but they may take it a step further by towing a car behind it, McDonald said.
Along with TJ’s Towing the Northern Star Girl Scouts will be riding their bikes through the parade.
Marty Meadows, Girl Scout service unit director, bought 100 glow sticks and will be dividing them up between the girl’s bikes. Extremeglow.com was the most affordable when buying the glow sticks in bulk, Meadows said.
Meadows will be riding a scooter and will be sporting some glow-in-the-dark sticks as well. They are estimating 15 to 20 bikes, maybe even more, she said.
“If the girls want to bring family members that is fine as well,” Meadows said. “Moms, dads, brothers and sisters. It can be a family event.”
Some of the ideas the girls have come up with is tying the sticks around their necks like necklaces, tying them in their hair and even on the bicycles handle bars.
There are over 100 girls registered with the Girls Scouts, but they don’t expect everyone to participate. They are predicting a large number though, Girl Scout leader, Kim Heslop said.
The Girl Scouts will be meeting in front of the post office at 8:30 p.m. and if any of the girls or parents have any questions they can contact Meadows at (620) 365-2340.
THE PARADE WILL begin at 9:30 p.m. Friday. Participants will need to line up by 8:30 p.m. on West Street.
People can still buy glow sticks and get them for a good price and in about two days at www.extremeglow.com, said Damaris Kunkler, program director for Thrive Allen County.
Glow sticks last roughly six to eight hours. LED lights and even string lights also can be used, just as long as they can be lit up while in motion.
