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Parade
re-creates festive atmosphere of Foster musical's debut
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Bardstown
Police Chief C.D. Marksbury leads the Jefferson County
Mounted Sheriff's Posse down North Third Street to begin
the 50th season opening day parade for "Stephen
Foster - The Musical."
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By
JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
Sunday,
June 8, 2008, 11:45 p.m. -- Hundreds of residents and
tourists brought their sunscreen and chairs to downtown Bardstown
Saturday afternoon for a parade celebration of the opening
night of the 50th season of "Stephen Foster - The Musical."
The
parade was a re-creation of the original parade that was part
of the outdoor drama's debut that first season nearly 50 years
ago.
Using
film footage shot of the original event, the planners tried
to incorporate the feel and theme of that first season in
this year's parade. The film of the 1959 parade was shot by
Mrs. C.F. Gobert of Bardstown.
The
2008 version of the parade was led by a group of horseback
riders -- the Jefferson County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse
followed behind Bardstown Police Chief C.D. Marksbury's patrol
car.
Cast
members of "The Musical" traveled through town on
horse-drawn carriages and wagons provided by Jonesie of Around
The Town Carriages.
The
parade featured nearly 40 entries, including Civil War re-enactors,
a variety of cars courtesy of the Whiskey City Cruisers; the
Bourbon City Brass Band; the Nelson County High School Band
of Pride; a variety of elected officials and several business
entries. The parade was sponsored by the Stephen Foster Productions
with the assistance of Town & Country Bank.
Following
the parade, the cast members of the Musical gathered at the
Old Courthouse to perform selected songs from the show.
For
more photos from the parade, click
here. 
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