Allenton, WI – The Allenton Annual Picnic Parade Committee recently announced it is honored to bring back the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies for the parade on Sunday, August 20.
The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies were severely affected by the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy. With prayers and perseverance, the group has actually grown and become even more popular. This spring a group of their members traveled to New Orleans to be in the Krewe of Thoth parade on February 17.
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Along with the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies will be the 1st Brigade Band of Watertown
According to the 1st Brigade Band website: In 1864 eighteen men from the Brodhead Brass Band enlisted in the Union Army as the band of the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 15th Army Corps.
They left their rural Wisconsin homes to participate, under the command of General William T. Sherman, in the campaigns of Northern Georgia and the Carolina’s. The “Tradition of Excellence” these men established, more than 130 years ago lives on today with the members of the 1st Brigade Band. The instruments played are those used during the war by the original 1st Brigade Band.
The band is dressed in clothing of the 1860’s area, in a wagon running gear made in the 1850’s and a re-created band wagon from the Civil War era.
Starting in 1947 the Allenton Picnic has evolved over the years. The picnic is held annually at the Allenton Veterans Memorial Park, 127 1st Street, on the third full weekend in August. Originally the picnic was held in the woods behind Maysteel Industries, LLC.
In later years, as Veterans Park was completed by the American Legion Post, the picnic was moved to the park. As the picnic grew, a parade was added.
For years, “Red” Theisen was the organizer of the parade; later it was passed on to Legion member Romie Breuer. After Romie stepped down, Bernie Wolf of the Allenton Fire Department took over organizing the parade. In 1994, Ron Naab was asked to take on the parade.
For many years the Allenton Parade has been recognized as one of the most entertaining in southern Wisconsin.
This year’s picnic will be held Friday, August 18, Saturday, August 19, and wraps up on Sunday, August 20. Friday night there will be a fish fry, available via drive-thru for meals to go or dine in at the park pavilion. The fish fry will be an extension of the famous Jug’s Hitching Post Fish Fry.
Starting Friday evening at 6 p.m. through Saturday afternoon there will be a softball tournament featuring 8 teams.
Saturday is designed to be a day the entire family can enjoy. Starting at 3 p.m. there will be the annual Bags Tournament. Keeping with the tradition of a family event there is a “Touch a Truck” event. The evening will wrap up in the pavilion with music by Nashville recording artist, Jacob Olson.
Sunday the parade will step off at 11:30 a.m. at the American Legion Clubhouse, 419 Railroad Street, Allenton, WI.
Six bands have been contracted to appear in the parade – Hartford City Band, West Bend Community Band, Dual County Community Band, Oshkosh VFW Band, 1st Brigade Band, and the Slinger High School Marching Band. The bands will also perform at the post-parade concert in the park.
During the concert, there will be special recognition given to five seasoned veterans with a special presentation recognizing their service to our country and communities.
The Allenton Annual Picnic is the largest fundraiser for the American Legion Post Fohl-Martin #483.
