Grand Marshall Carol Chandler rides with her grandchildren, Natalie and Anthony, in the Montross Fall Festival Parade. Source: Westmoreland News
Grand Marshall Carol Chandler and the dancers from the Caporales Centralistas USA were among the highlights that wrapped up this year’s Montross Fall Festival. With spectators watching from the sidewalks along Main Street, eyes were focused on the sights of Saturday’s events.
Vice President Edward Terrazas, of Caporales Centralistas USA, said they were excited about being invited to attend the event.
“It was our first time in Montross and we liked it. People took to us well, it was crowded and it was nice,” Terrazas said, adding that the group would consider returning if invited.
This event was their second festival since the group organized in December. During the summer they made an appearance in Colonial Beach for the annual Potomac River Festival. Only half of their group were able to attend the fall festival.
Mark Bryant, who has been the parade announcer for at least 10 years, said he was surprised when he saw the entry listing the national competitive dancers.
“Everyone stopped in their tracks and it was very entertaining,” Bryant said.
Mayor David O’Dell, like Bryant and others, braced for the heat this weekend. Still it was not enough to bring down the mayor.
“It was beautiful day, a great parade, nice bands and floats,” O’Dell said. “It’s another festival in the books and I’m looking forward to the next one.”
Gwen Henry left contest coordinators in amazement with her knowledge of the town’s history in the first festival scavenger hunt. Henry printed her photos and copied them into a portfolio detailing the answers to the quiz.