Volunteers needed for Ritzville Parade

The Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing for this year’s Ritzville Community Parade on Saturday, Aug. 31, and is currently seeking volunteers to assist with parade preparation and coordination. The annual Labor Day weekend parade is held in conjunction with the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair and previously has been coordinated by the Ritzville Festivals Association.

Last year, the RACC began working with the Ritzville Festivals Association in preparation for this year when the parade is being organized primarily by the RACC, with assistance and support from the Ritzville Festival Association. The Ritzville Festivals Association will continue its other programs such as Distinguished Young Woman and traveling to other communities with the float.

Volunteers are needed to help with coordination and organizing of the parade prior to start time and during the annual parade. The majority of volunteer shifts can be completed before the conclusion of the parade to ensure volunteers have adequate time to watch the parade, attend the barbecue in the park and visit the fair.

The list of volunteer positions includes a judge’s chairman, parking monitor, refreshment table monitor, announcer’s stage, golf cart drivers, parade director, parade layout monitor, decorations and runners.

The judge’s chairman is responsible for tallying the judging sheets, delivering ribbons and trophies, and giving results to the check-in-desk and announcer. The parking monitor is in charge of insuring vehicles do not park on the parade route after the street closure is in effect.

The refreshment table monitor is responsible for maintaining the table, providing adequate refreshments and ensuring the refreshments are distributed in an orderly fashion. Golf cart drivers are responsible adults needed to shuttle the Distinguished Young Women representatives to parade entries to deliver refreshments to parade participants.

The announcer’s stage volunteer is needed to assist the announcer with the entry forms as each parade entry is announced. The parade director volunteer is needed to instruct parade entries of when to begin the parade route.

The parade layout monitor is needs to mark locations for each parade entry by number on Broadway Avenue with sidewalk chalk prior to the parade. A volunteer is also needed to decorate the announcer’s stand, and all decorations will be provided. The final volunteer position is runners who are needed to help with a variety of tasks at the Legion Hall and other locations, helping make sure everything runs smoothly.

The Ritzville Community Parade is a long-standing tradition on Labor Day weekend and volunteers help continue the tradition. The Children’s Parade starts on Main Avenue at 10:45 a.m., followed by the Grand Parade at 11 a.m.

All volunteers are asked to meet at the American Legion Memorial Hall at 106 West Broadway Avenue on Aug. 31. Volunteer shift times range between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m.