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 17. The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies are a highly respected group of senior ladies dancing and entertaining many along the parade route.
Along with the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies will be the 1st Brigade Band of Watertown.
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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” that 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 traditional 1860’s-era clothing with a re-created band wagon from the Civil War era.
The picnic starts on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. with an awesome Fish Fry featuring Jug’s Hitching Post. There’s also a shredded chicken dinner.
Later in the day the Allenton Softball Tournament will begin featuring some very talented teams from the area. Entertainment for Friday evening will be Stetson & Lace which is a five-person country music band.
The softball tournament will continue into Saturday with music during the evening hours provided by Ebert’s Dancing Machine.
Traditional picnic food will be available on Saturday and Sunday, including sweet corn on Sunday.
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 15, Saturday, August 16, and wraps up on Sunday, August 17.
Sunday the parade will step off at 11:30 a.m. at the American Legion Clubhouse, 419 Railroad Street, Allenton, WI.
The Allenton Annual Picnic is the largest fundraiser for the American Legion Post Fohl-Martin #483.
Click HERE for more information on the Allenton American Legion
