Bicentennial float to be the highlight of holiday parades

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The Baldwin County Archives and History office has crafted its own parade float to mark the final days of the bicentennial Two hundred years have come and nearly gone in Alabama. As the state prepares to close three years’ worth of bicentennial celebrations, Baldwin County will mark the occasion with a party on wheels.

celebration. The Mardi Gras style float was transformed into a history lesson on wheels by Baldwin County Parks Department employees Michael Curry, Treverious Crook and Jessie Ikner.

The men repainted the float and hand-painted individual letters on both sides. The process took nearly three months.

“You would not believe the before look,” said Felisha Anderson, Baldwin County Archivist.

Both sides of the giant vehicle will be lined with Alabama Bicentennial flags while members of the Bicentennial Steering Committee will ride on top, many dressed in period attire from various points of time in Baldwin County’s history. Anderson said they will throw bicentennial themed beads and other fun items.

Revelers can catch a glimpse of the float in the Bay Minette Veterans Day parade and Christmas parades in Gulf Shores, Daphne and Bay Minette. Anderson said more parades may be added to the list.

The final months of the celebration will be busy in Baldwin County. In addition to the parade appearances the committee is hosting several events.

First, the annual re-enactment of the Removal of the Baldwin County Seat will be held Thursday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. in downtown Bay Minette. This year attendees can enter the first ever dessert contest too.

On Nov. 7 the Daphne Civic Center will host the Bicentennial Exhibition, a collection of every display crafted over the three year-long celebration. The event is free and begins at 5 p.m. The committee will unveil new artwork commissioned for the anniversary by Fairhope artist Dean Mosher and the book produced by the committee for the anniversary.

“It is packed full of the people and places that make Baldwin county that great county that it is today,” Anderson said. The books will be for sale to the public for $20 each.