Greenville Bicentennial Celebration

We just got home from a really really super fun awesome weekend in Greenville.  This year Greenville turns 200 which is pretty impressive considering it is 3 years older than the state of Illinois.  There has been small events all year to celebrate it turning 200 but Labor day weekend was the big official celebration.  There were 2 days of events lined up from sunup to sundown.  This was an especially big weekend at the Catron house because my dad has been on the committee planning for this weekends events for the last 3 year.  And he was the Chairman of the committee so he was in charge of making sure everything went smoothly all weekend and happened as it was supposed to.  

Saturday's events started off with a 5K bicentennial race in town.  I love a good 5K and I love running in Greenville so I was signed up early to run in the race.  It was a hot and steamy morning (and weekend for that matter about 95 both days). but it was early and only 3 miles so I wasn't too worried about it.  I had a great run and was happy with my time.  I had a goal of 27 minutes and I came in at 26:19.  I finished 19th overall out of about 90 and 3rd in my age group category.  One of my favorite things was I got a bicentennial t-shirt for running that I wore the rest of the weekend.  

As soon as that was over I race over to the opening ceremonies to hear Papa get things kicked off and give his speach and to see Grandma dressed up as Dr. Luzader go up on stage.  Why did I not get a picture of the 2 of them on stage together?  I dont know!   

Randy the cowboy and his rope tricks act

he yodeled and twirled his rope a lot

Grandma dressed and a Dr. Luzader the 1st female Dr. in Greenville for the cemetery tour of interesting people in Greenville

Grandma's spot was in the mosaleum as the tour groups when around she gave a brief 3 min synopsis of her life.  

After I got cleaned up the boys and I went to see Cowboy Randy and his rope tricks.  We also helped Grandma get all set up at her historical tour in the cemetery.  I would have loved to go on the whole tour and see everyone talk but I didn't think the boys would be to into it and it was 95 degrees so we opted to stay cool at the house.  Once Grandma was done and all changed we checked out some of the stuff going on downtown.  We planned to take the boys to the carnival but by the time we got there Grant was asleep in the stroller so we postponed that for the next day. 

riding the cars at the carnival

Sunday was a very busy day.  We started it off by going to the community church service.  The boys were very good throughout it and Mom and Dad and I all enjoyed the old time hymns and the whole service.  After lunch we saw some BMX bike tricks on the square, rode carnival rides, met some big celebrities, Mr. Peanut, Ronald McDonald, and the St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders.  Then we all sat in the shade and enjoyed lemonade shake ups.  I dont know if they have ever tasted so good.  Papa came and picked us up in his vip all access golf cart and drove us over to see the Anheiser Clydesdales before the parade started.  We were glad we had reserved our parade spot early in the morning it was a packed crowd the whole route.  They estimate maybe as many of 20,000 people came to see the parade.  It was the hottest parade I can remember being at but all the things in the parade were so good it was worth it.

Meeting Mr. Peanut and his nut mobile (a highlight for all of us!)

meeting Ronald McDonald.

Checking out the Anheiser Busch Clydesdale's before the parade

Papa (on the left in the backseat) riding in the elected officials part of the parade

cool old Donnell-Wiegand Funeral home ambulance....I really wanted to sing the ghostbusters song when it went by.  

Mr. Peanutin the parade

Blues mascot. 

Clydesdales going by.

a view of the crowd at the little river band concert.  I was over by the lights on the right by the green shirt people.

Once the boys were asleep Mom was nice to let me go watch the Little River Band concert with Dad (in the vip area) and see the fireworks.  Both of those were really awesome, something I wont forget for a long time.  It made it extra special to be there with my dad who had planned and work so hard for all of these events to take place. You did an AWESOME job Dad.  Love you!

We all had a blast all weekend long.  There will never again be such a fun time had in the city of Greenville, im really glad the boys and I got to be a part of it.