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Parade, Big Wheels race, car show, music, vendors, frog jumping to take over Canton June 3-4 at Dairy Princess Festival

Posted 5/26/16

By MATT LINDSEY CANTON -- The 52nd St. Lawrence County Dairy Princess Parade & Festival kicks off June 3 with the popular Big Wheels races for kids, car show, block dance, crafters and vendors …

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Parade, Big Wheels race, car show, music, vendors, frog jumping to take over Canton June 3-4 at Dairy Princess Festival

Posted

By MATT LINDSEY

CANTON -- The 52nd St. Lawrence County Dairy Princess Parade & Festival kicks off June 3 with the popular Big Wheels races for kids, car show, block dance, crafters and vendors and even frog jumping.

The Big Wheels race, a festival favorite, is slated for a 6 p.m. start Friday near the Presbyterian Church near Village Park. Children ages four through six race to win the grand prize of a free Big Wheel.

“The winner in each division will take home a new Big Wheel and receive a trophy,” Canton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sally Hill said.

The race typically draws 75 children. Second and third place finishers will take home a trophy and the top six finalists receive medals, she said.

Big Wheels are supplied for racers.

A car show will return Friday evening, covering the area from Park to Pine streets. To enter a vehicle in the show, contact Jim Rose at Boyden Brooks Body Works at 379-9853.

Live music and dancing will fill the streets around 8 p.m. Friday for the annual John Deere Days Block Dance sponsored by LeBerge & Curtis. Entertainment takes place near Village Park at the corner of Main and Park streets. There will be food, drawings and fun for all ages.

The festival continues Saturday morning, June 4, at 10 a.m. where vendors will fill Village Park selling their wares and a “Street Fair” will be held as well.

There will be a variety of vendors, crafters, info booths and more set up along the street with demos, samples and activities planned, Hill said.

The event will run until about 3 or 4 p.m., depending on the weather and turnout, Hill said.

There will be beer and wine tasting at the library.

New this year will be a frog jumping contest in the park on Saturday.

Some frogs will be supplied, but participants are encouraged to bring their own, Hill said. There is no charge and chamber gift certificates will be awarded to winners.

Hill said a parade is set for a 1 p.m. start, with the Norwood Brass Firemen set to make their debut.

“We’ve asked them for several years, but they’ve had other commitments and events going on,” Hill said. “They wanted to help out because it's a local event.”

Entertainment by the Brockville Pipe Band will return again this year.

“St. Lawrence University hosts the pipe band as part of their alumni weekend (held the same weekend) and they donate their services as a benefit to us,” she said.

The theme for this year’s parade floats is “Sound of Moosic.”

“I expect there to be a few dancing cows and milk-themed floats,” Hill said.

To enter a float, contact the chamber at 386-8255.

The parade typically last about an hour, Hill said. The parade will travel from the St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services parking lot to Chapel Street and then onto Riverside Drive before turning left onto Main Street heading towards the Village Park.

Aside from the floats, other parade participants expected to join include fire departments, politicians, Canton Daycare, youth advocate groups, the Canton Goldenaires, charities, the Pee Wee Association and more, Hill said.

Traffic will be slowed down and alternative routes will be suggested during the parade.

Local radio stations Q-Country 102.9 and 96.7 YES-FM will announce live at the parade.

There will be a chicken BBQ and other food vendors in the park during the weekend.