It rained. And rained. And rained. But the traditional Ohio Swiss Festival Kiddie Parade still stepped off down Main Street in Sugarcreek in spite of the wet skies at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30. Newly crowned Little Swiss Miss Justine Hershberger and her court, Liza Thomas and Alexis Yoder, led the parade, waving at the crowd from a convertible shielded by umbrellas.

Mom Maggie Richards was in the parade with her children, Paige and Jordan. The three huddled under an umbrella which also helped to shield their Pit Bull-Bull Terrier Chubbs, as he curled up in blankets inside a baby stroller, and Ruby, their Boston Terrier, who preferred to use her own four feet for the parade trek.

“I do this because it’s fun for the kids,” said Richards. “The kids like to get dressed up, and it’s fun for us to see all the animals dressed up.”

Paige was quick to agree. “It’s fun walking my dog and showing her off.”

But little brother Jordan moved closer to his mother, rolled his eyes upward at the non-stop rain and shrugged. “I want to go home,” he admitted honestly.

One group entered in the Kiddie Parade float division has a very long history of participating in not only the Kiddie Parade, but all festivities during the annual event.

“These are the grandchildren and great-grandchild of Grace and John Stalder, of Pearl Valley Cheese,” explained Ruth Chapin, the daughter of the Stalders. She looked lovingly at the little ones who were gathered around a child-size table on the float, seemingly impervious to the rain as they munched on crackers and cheese.

“We have been in this Kiddie Parade forever, ever since it started. Grandpa Ernest Stalder was one of the founders. Today, the fifth generation of the Stalders is riding on the float. My husband, Marc, is driving, and I guess you could call me the child handler. Our theme is Don’t Be Late for the Ohio Swiss Festival, which is a take-off on Alice and Wonderland, with the White Rabbit.”

Tiny Miciah Cahill, Chapin’s niece, piped up “I’m Alice!” as she sat at the table with her brother, Josiah, as her older brother, Malachi, pranced around behind them as the White Rabbit. Twenty-month-old Isabel Horsfall waited in her mother’s arms to take her place at the storybook table.

“Malachi was a little disappointed because he wanted to be a Swiss White Rabbit, but we didn’t know how to get that whole point across,” laughed Chapin. “But he looks great!”

The kids’ parents, Trudy and Lee Cahill, and Lydia and Ryan Horsfall all helped,” noted Chapin. ”Everybody helped. Mark’s in charge of the tractor, and my dad, John, helps in getting the pickup over here. It’s a family affair.”



Kiddie Parade Results:



Best Decorated Dog – Elayna Kohler, Makayla Sitzlar, Logan Lorenz

Best Swiss Girl – Preschool – Leah Hamilton, Julianna Arbogast, Helena Wiggins

Best Swiss Boy – Preschool – Kyle Yoder, Owen Menger, Brody Wolf

Best Swiss Couple – Preschool – Collin and Madeline Smith, Izaiah Richards and Lily Carmicheal, Kingman Bear and Sophia Clay

Best Decorated Cat – Olivia Mullet, Bella Sanatore, Emma Bond

Best Decorated Doll Buggy – Anna Crihfield, Faith LeMay, Rylee and Joey North

Best Decorated Coaster Wagon – Mackenzie Wilson, Chloe Zesiger and Aubree Jenkins, Given Stein, Aly Wegrzyn, Megan Tice

Best Decorated Tricycle – Parker and Grayson Hoxworth

Best Swiss Girl – Kindergarten and up – Samantha Putt, Sophia Grace Beachy, Courtney Billetter

Best Swiss Boy – Kindergarten and up – Julian Shrock

Best Swiss Couple - Kindergarten and up – Beau Wolf and Corinne Hamilton, Nicholas and Caitlin Maust, Chett and Lexi Troyer

Best Decorated 4-Wheel Vehicle – Zehnder and Trace Gibson, Alexa Swihart, Kory Yoder

Best Decorated Bicycle – Marley Metzger, Michael Sitzlar, Lucas Swartzentruber

Best Decorated Other Pet – Lexi Beitler, Grady Wiggins, Grace Yoder

Best Decorated Pony – Reese Graham

Best Decorated Float:

First - Marley Eckert

Second - Isabel Horsfall, Miciah Cahill, Malachi Cahill, and Josiah Cahill

Third – Ryse Zahner, Meghan Petitte, Morgan Schlabach