KINGWOOD — The 77th annual Buckwheat Festival kicked off Thursday evening with the Firemen’s Parade.
Despite the rain and cold, a few people lined the streets to watch the parade from under umbrellas. Others wandered into the Brew Ha Ha for hot drinks and warmth.
Weather conditions did not deter two sisters who traveled 888 miles to see their niece and granddaughter. Rosa Brown and Martha Smith, both of Florida, said they came to Preston County to see Delaney Parker, who marched with the Central Preston Band, and Mackenzie Goodwin, who rode in the Here We Grow Daycare vehicle.
The Preston High School Army Junior ROTC Honor Guard led the parade down Price Street and, according to the Official Schedule, “nearly 100 units of bands, fire and emergency apparatus representing fire and emergency services from Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia” participated in the parade.
As the parade progressed, Clinton B. Adkins and his wife Judy, representing the county as King and Lady Fireman waved at the people from one of the Reedsville Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) trucks. Adkins is the safety officer and treasurer of the Reedsville VFD, and his wife is vice president of the Ladies Auxiliary.
Highlights of the parade included King Buckwheat Noah Gregory Thomas and Queen Ceres LXXVII Talia Brooke Goodwin, and the junior and senior princesses and escorts.
Adding music to the parade was the Preston County Unified Middle School Band, which is made up of musicians from every middle school in the county. There were other groups, including the Jefferson Township Band, the Central Preston Wildcat Band, the Southern Maryland Marching Band and the Preston High School Band.
Tweet @DominionPostWV. Email newsroom@dominionpost.com
