By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–It was a perfect day for a parade and what a parade it was.
Under sunny skies, the World’s Biggest Fish Fry Grand Parade was bigger and better than ever before Friday. The city of Paris provided a preliminary estimate of some 42,000 people on hand, with crowds lining both sides of East Wood Street all along the parade route. “We’ll know more on Monday after we’ve calculated it, but for a preliminary estimate, we’re saying 42,000 now,” Assistant Police Chief Ean Reed said. “We know there were a lot more than we had last year.”
The parade had everything, from five marching bands, dozens of colorful floats and other creative entries. Grand Marshals were “The Herbison boys”–Bart and Mark–and there were numerous state and area politicians, including the real crowd-pleaser Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs who wrestled under the professional name of ‘Kane’ and towered over everyone wanting a selfie with him. There were a colorful Barbie-themed floats this year and plenty of waving beauty queens of all ages.
The Herbisons are sons of JB and Carol Herbison and have roots in both Paris and Cottage Grove. Bart is now the Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Association International and Mark is President of the Tipton County Community Development Council and was instrumental in the development of the BlueOval City.
As is tradition, most everyone crowded to the fairgrounds for the Fish Tent and carnival right after the parade. The Bulls and Barrels Showdown will be held at the fairgrounds tonight (Friday) and Saturday night, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Fish Tent will be open until 9 p.m. tonight and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. The Arts and Crafts Show is at the fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. through Saturday.
Saturday’s events include the Small Fry Parade, which will be at Barton Field again this year, starting at 10 a.m., followed by the Junior Fishing Rodeo at Williams Lake at 11 a.m. Free for children 12 and under.
The float that was awarded the General Manager’s Choice was The Amazing JoJo from Charter Senior Living.
Other winners are:
Best Club or Church: 1. Jesus is the Sweetest; 2. Compassion Church; 3. In the Company of Heroes.
Best Out of Town: 1. Strawberry Festival; 2. Dresden Senior Prom; 3. Miss Dresden.
Most Beautiful Float: 1. Born to Ride; 2. Let’s Go Barbie; 3. No Place Like WBFF.
Most Original: 1. Wild About Prevention, Henry County Carl Perkins Center; 2. Fish Fry Cutie Pies; 3. Living The Sweet Life at WBFF.
Top Photo: Grand Marshals Mark and Bart Herbison wave to the crowds.
County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway interviews ‘Kane’ for the livestream.
One of the winners –Fish Fry Cuties
Hostess Princess Abby Smith and her court
Photos by Shannon McFarlin