For well over a century, a community parade has heralded the opening of the Washington County Fair. This is the first year a group has been asked not to participate.

 

Less than 12 hours before the parade lineup was to begin, the Neighbors for Clean Air got a call from the fair board saying they were not welcome.

 

“We have never had an issue like this before,” said fair board president Steve Tornes.

 

Tornes said the board received a “heads-up” that the Neighbors were going to wear t-shirts and carry a banner in the parade. Tornes said although the complaint did not come directly from the company, fair sponsor Eramet had a problem with the Neighbors’ participation. So, the fair board voted to tell them not to walk in the parade.

 

Tornes said he didn’t know what the t-shirts or banner were going to say. But, since it’s the fair board that holds the parade permit, their attorney said they could handle the situation however they wished. Tornes said the Neighbors are free to say what they like, just not in the fair parade.

 

“It was the choice of the board,” Tornes said. “The clean air people have never done anything for us.”

 

Unlike other parades, entrants in the fair parade show up and line up on parade day. There is no application or fee.

 

Tornes said the board might have to consider applications in the future – to avoid any sort of parade entry that might be offensive.