Shopping, parade, concert keep Mound City busy on Sugar Mound weekend

As is tradition, the dancing autumn "leaves," this year Elouise (in orange) and Amelia, lead the Sugar Mound parade.

Story and photos by Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com

The annual return of the Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12-13, brings with it plenty of activities outside the fairgrounds. The annual parade, the largest in Linn County, kicked-off the weekend Saturday morning for hundreds of parade-goers who lined the Main Street.

In a change from the usual order, the horse riders, mostly from the Pleasanton Saddle Club, came early in the parade behind the Jayhawk Marching Band, which played the National Anthem. The saddle club rode in memory of Mark Davis, a Parker man who dedicated his life to working with young riders with the club. Davis died on Aug. 30 from injuries suffered from an accident at the club.

Shops along Main Street reported brisk business on Saturday as shoppers from out of the area discovered the variety outside the fairgrounds where the festival is held. Three Chicks and Pony antique store as well as the vendors set up outside the shop saw considerable traffic as did Stonetree Coffee and Pottery further down the main drag.

On Saturday evening, a concert at the Mound City Amphitheater along with a food truck serving up Mexican food drew an appreciative crowd.

The 2024 Linn County Fair and Rodeo queen Kallie Stroup rides in the Mound City Bandwagon, driven by Steve Williams.

The Jayhawk-Linn Marching Band, comprised of musicians from Jayhawk-Linn High School and junior high, kicked off the parade with the Star Spangled Banner.

The Prairie View Buffalos Marching Band halted in mid-parade, forming a circle for about a half dozen couples to dance.

Jayhawk-Linn 2024 homecoming king and queen, Dayson Eastwood and Danielle Slinkard rode in the parade.

Shoppers at the Jolly Market at the high school looked for t-shirts on Saturday.

Eleven-year-old twins Olivia, from left, and Londyn along with their younger sister Addie sold cookie mixes and flavored popcorns at their Kids Craft Show booth near the entrance to Sugar Valley Lakes.

A quilt show at the Mound City Historical Park drew visitors. Vickie Thorson, left, gave tips on how to make a quilt from t-shirts.

Taylor Robinson opened the concert at the Mound City Amphitheater on Saturday with a song list of pop favorites.

Danielle Slinkard sang with Ray Williamson and the rest of the Neon Harvest band on several songs.

Here are more photos from Saturday: