Everybody loves a parade

TUSCUMBIA - Vonetta Ricks never misses a chance to participate in the annual Helen Keller Festival.  "I love the atmosphere," says Ricks, who watched Thursday evening's downtown parade with her 2-year-old son, Emmanuel. "It's a chance for the whole area to come together and honor all that Helen Keller accomplished and what she meant to the rest of the world."

The annual parade passed through the heart of Tuscumbia's historic hometown, bringing together marching bands, twirlers, dancers, horses, wagons, fire trucks, antique vehicles, civic groups, veterans' groups, historical societies and cast members of "The Miracle Worker," the dramatic play based on Keller's inspiring life.

"We come to the parade every year - we never miss it," said Hazel Stovall of Tuscumbia, who brought three generations of her family to Main Street for a front-row seat where they witnessed the colorful spectacle of sight and sound. "We just all really enjoy it."

Stovall sat on the edge of the bed of her Ford Ranger pickup while her mother, Hattie Wallace of Cherokee, watched the festivities through the open window of the driver's seat. Even though the sun was beginning to fade

over the horizon, the evening weather for the parade was still hot and sticky.

"Heat doesn't bother me much at all - I'd rather it be hot out here than cold," Wallace remarked. "I came over to the festival because I wanted to see what the parade was like this year. This will probably be the only thing I go to all week, so I wasn't about to let the heat keep me away."

A third member of the family relaxed on the truck's open tailgate. Up until this year, Stovall's son, Wes, participated in the parade as a member of the Deshler High School Tigers Marching Band. He'll soon be part of the band program at the University of North Alabama.

"It feels a little strange just being here to watch - I'm so used to being in it," he explained. "But it's fun, and it's a good way to be a part of the festival.

"I'm looking forward to some of the other things coming up this week, especially the Darryl Worley concert."

The festival, now in its 25th year, continues through this Sunday. Concerts, art exhibits, historical programs, tours and educational activities have drawn some of the largest crowds in the festival's history. Organizers are hoping to avoid rain for the rest of the week, although showers are forecast.

"The crowds have just been unreal," noted Susann Hamlin, director of the Colbert County Convention and Tourism Bureau. "We had 50 people show up today for the walking tour through downtown. For a Thursday afternoon, that's just unbelievable."

Thursday's parade united a wide variety of races and ages, local residents and out-of-town visitors. One of the grand marshals for the parade was 8-year-old Cody Holt, a legally blind home-school student from Homewood, who won second place in the annual Helen Keller Art Show.

"All of the artists who enter are visually impaired," Hamlin explained. "His artwork will now become part of the collection at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind here in Tuscumbia."

The Keller festivities honor the memory of "America's First Lady of Courage," who was born in Tuscumbia in 1880. Through her work as an author, humanitarian and ambassador for the American Foundation for the Blind, Keller became known around the world as a unifier.

"I think the festival lives up to her example - it brings the whole area together," said Keller Johnson Thompson, who follows her great-great-aunt's example through her own work with the foundation.

"Thousands and thousands of people come to this festival because they like the music or they're interested in the arts and crafts," added Thompson, who serves as chairwoman of the volunteer board of directors that coordinates the annual Keller celebration. "The festival is really keeping her spirit alive."

This year's parade entries ranged from a float featuring young patrons of the Children's Museum of the Shoals to uniformed seniors representing veterans from the American Legion.

Today's festival events include Keller Kids, a full day of educational activities designed to teach children about the barriers faced by people with disabilities. Keller's memory is also highlighted through daily tours of her birthplace, Ivy Green, and performances of "The Miracle Worker" tonight and Saturday night on the Ivy Green grounds.

"She was born here, and this festival is done to honor her," Ricks added. "We all need to remember that and honor her life throughout the week."

Terry Pace can be reached at 740-5741 or terry.pace@timesdaily.com.