GRIFTON — Organizers said that the 52nd Annual Shad Festival was a huge success and their main event day kicked off with the Shad Festival Parade on April 20 with about 50 units in the procession.
The march began promptly at 10:30 a.m. where Grand Marshal Mermaid Splash made a huge splash, and McKenzie Suggs debuted as Miss Griffin 2024.
This year’s Shad Festival theme was Bubbles Up in honor of the late singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett, and bubbles floated throughout the parade and all over town during the day’s festivities.
Mayor Pro-Tem Claude Kennedy welcomed everyone and introduced the radio broadcaster and Mayor of Farmville John Moore as the parade announcer. Also, on the parade viewing stand sat Grifton Town Commissioners Angela Gay and Raymond Oakes, who were judging.
Other dignitaries included: president of Grifton Shad Festival committee Randall Hart; Farmville Commissioner David Shackleford; Winterville commissioners Veronica Roberson, Lisa Smith and Johnny Moye; Ayden Mayor Ivory Mewborn; Mayor Pro-Tem Raymond Langley, Commissioner Brian Newell and Town Manager Scott Howard; Pitt County Clerk of Superior Court Sara Beth Fulford Rhodes; Chair of Pitt County Board of Commissioners Mark Smith; Don Rhodes, Worth Forbes and Benjie Forrest with the Pitt County Board of Education; and Lenoir County Commissioner Keith King.
After the parade, awards were presented by Randall Hart to Ayden-Grifton High School Band (Best Band), Greene Central High School Band (Best Marching Unit), Contentnea Creek RV Park (Best Fish/Fishing Theme) and Grifton Baseball (Best Bubbles Up Theme). Fishing contest winners for catching the first shad were Eric, Tyra and Braxton Sparrow (Adult Male/Adult Female/Youth Male) and Ellie Johnson (Youth Female).
Suggs said that the past week was super busy for her including Saturday’s festival activities, so she had to keep up with her time management skills.
“My first duty was judging the Fishy Tales on Monday at Grifton School,” she said. “That was a super fun experience seeing all the little kids tell their little stories; it was so cute. Then I had Shad-o bingo Friday night at Grifton School, and a ton of activities today after the awards ceremony,” said Suggs.
Suggs had the opportunity to attend the Miss ECU Pageant the following day with her pageant Director Samantha Nichols because the Shad Festival’s Sunday events were postponed due to the weather.
Initially, Suggs declined going to the Miss ECU Pageant so she could be in Grifton for the Sunday events because she said that she felt like getting to know her community was her bigger priority.
“Honestly being in the parade, seeing everybody, and having everybody wave at me, and all the compliments was the biggest highlight, and it’s been so sweet,” said Suggs.
The rest of the main event day was full of entertainment and fun with a Mermaid Splash meet and greet, ProTown BMX stunt shows, Bubble Circus, Circus entertainers, Carolina H.E.A.T. martial arts demonstrations, traditional Mexican dancers, rides, vendors and musical performances. The night ended with the Tams performing and fireworks.
A duck race fundraiser and kayak race scheduled for that Sunday has been rescheduled for May 18.
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