Kiddie Parade in Kendall includes many patriotic characters
By Natalie Baron, correspondent
KENDALL – The Kendall Firemen’s Carnival included a Kiddie Parade today at 11:30 a.m., a procession in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
It started at the Methodist Church and concluded at the carnival grounds, which is celebrating the country’s anniversary. The Kiddie Parade was sponsored by The Tree House School of Play at Albion.
Chase Kludt trails a wagon in full costume. William Hardenbrook was Uncle Sam and enthusiastically showed off his sign.
After the parade, the children who appeared most patriotic were announced as winners. The competition was separated into age brackets, with one boy and girl victor per age group. The brackets were toddler, pre-k-kindergarten, 1st-2nd grade, and grades 3-6. Winners received ride bands for free entry onto carnival rides. The other parade participants retrieved ice cream coupons. All of the children were given freeze pops.
The winners of the toddler age bracket were Callie Burch and Caleb Partyka. The pre-k to kindergarten group’s were Jacob Mathes and Makenna Partyka. For 1st-2nd grade, the winners were Evelyn Robinson and William Hardenbrook. 3rd-6th grade victors were Chase Kludt and Travis Manners.
Makenna Partyka, right, and another girl pose for their photo. Caleb Partyka rides on the John Deere tractor in the background.
Before the parade kicked off, Katie Spohr of Kendall’s Happy 250th Birthday America Committee stated, “We’re hoping to have a great day. Looks like we’re starting to have a good turnout. I love it! This parade is just part of the fun. Our theme is patriotic, and we see a lot of red, white, and blue here today, so it’s great.”
Orly the Ox, the bicentennial mascot for Orleans County, made an appearance in the parade. The trailer features signs stating that there will be fireworks at 10 p.m. today at the carnival.
The path of the parade went from the Methodist Church to the 250th Birthday America booth. The booth featured multiple fun and patriotic stations.
Dave Bentley, part of Kendall’s Happy 250th Birthday America Committee, worked a raffle for a quilt. The Victorian Thimble & Petals was present, wearing historical reenactment garb. Black’s Mercantile showed off Civil War Weapons from 1861-1865, also in reenactment costumes. Jeff Kinne, one of the sponsors of the Happy 250th Anniversary America carnival, provided entertainment, singing patriotic country songs at the booth after the winners were announced.
The children had fun in the parade. Here, a boy celebrates.
Daughters of the American Revolution had multiple items to pick up when passing by. Its station had educational and fun activity bags, crayon packs, heart stickers, America 250 bracelets, and coloring books containing primarily Revolutionary War pages as well as a 4th of July page. Additionally, it contained four pamphlets for adults, each explaining a different facet of American history. One told the tale of the Pledge of Allegiance, and another provided fun facts about the Constitution.
Maggie Culmone of The ROC MUA paints a burger on Peytyn Green’s face. Peytyn is from Henrietta and participated in the parade.

Peytyn’s sister, Ophelia Martinez, posed for a photograph. She was also in the parade.
Robin Schepler, aka Gramma Robin, made balloon animals and figures. The options were many including a puppy, penguin, donkey, elephant, mosquito, daisy with a stem, flower, rainbow headband, jester hat, wand in superhero or heart variety, sword in two varieties, flag on a heart, historical gun, and patriotic hat. Maggie Culmone, a makeup artist for The ROC MUA, did face painting.
Tanner Rinas of Kendall is all smiles as he awaits his patriotic balloon sword. Gramma Robin is hard at work tying its pieces together.
The children were very excited to show off their patriotic spirit. Some even made custom signs.
Eden Lamay, one of the judges for the Kiddie Parade, said, “This is the first year we’ve done it in a long time.” Melissa Shultz, another judge, voiced to those who attended, “Thank you for coming out.” She added to those who couldn’t make it, “Make sure to check for next year’s kiddie parade. We’d love to see more.”
Korra Palumbo from Kendall, a carnival attendee, was all dressed up as Abigail Adams. Here, she carries an America 250 flag as she poses in front of the Victorian Thimble & Petals station.














































