WELLSBORO - Thousands of parade watchers lined the streets Saturday for the 71st Laurel Festival parade.
There were more than usual, according to chamber of commerce director Julie VanNess, who attributed the large turnout to the good weather.
"People like to come out on a nice day," she said.
The thermometer on the bank read 87 degrees as the parade of more than 70 units wrapped up about 3:30 p.m.
The Prime Time Brass from Rochester, N.Y. joined the Hit Men Brass Band, also of Rochester in the parade this year.
Prime Time Brass has participated in Mardi Gras, New Orleans, the New York City St. Patrick's Day parade and GermanFest N.Y.C.
The popular Hit Men perform all over the United States and Canada. Formed in 2002 by World Drum and Bugle Corps Hall of fame member Dave Martin, hey consist of 9 incarcerated marching musicians from the New York State Department of Corrections.
Also new to the parade just in time for the summer Olympic games, was Michelle Rohl, of Mansfield, a member of the U.S. Olympic team in three different Olympics, track and field in 1992 in Barcelona Spain, for the 10K race walk; in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996, and in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Austraila for the 20K Race Walk. She was a silver medalist at the Pan Am Games held in Argentina ni 1995, and is an American Record holder. She is currently a Mansfield University track and field /cross country coach.
Saturday night Corrin Binford, competing as Miss Troy, was crowned 2012 Laurel Queen. Victoria Nance Haley Lyman were first and second runners-up. Nance was Miss Mansfield and Lyman was Miss Shippensburg.
The Northcentral Pennsylvania Farm Power Association of Tioga County added a taste of the farm with their tractor unit comprised of 9 tractors classic 1940s and 50s era tractors.
The family oriented organization teaches the legacy of agriculture and the love of horse power, as in horses doing the work to save manual labor on the farm, and the ingenuity that went into using engines and tractors to increase productivity and decrease physical manual labor, according to organization president Jason VanDergrift.
