Vandalia’s Air Show parade steps off

This is the 40th year for the Air Show parade, and it’s only had to be cancelled twice, with last year being the second time--according to Dan Schweitzer, Parade Chair.

To make sure the weather is going to be in good shape for the parade, Schweitzer checks the radar. If it’s going to rain, the parade is still on, but if it’s going to thunderstorm, then the parade gets called off.

Many people set up chairs outside to see this parade. “These chairs have been there for a couple of days now,” said Schweitzer. “We have like 30 volunteers, and over 70 units in the parade. We got bands, we got drum cores, we got the shrine in the parade. So everyone needs to come out and see us.”

On Friday, the Vandalia-Butler Chamber of Commerce will host an Air Show parade in honor of this year’s Dayton Vectren Air Show at the Dayton International Airport.

The parade will close a portion of National Road and Dixie Drive from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, according to Communications Manager Rich Hopkins.

Event organizers had planned for Vandalia Police Chief Douglas Knight to be the grand marshal for the parade, but Knight died this spring, just weeks after announcing he planned to retire this summer.

Instead, members of the Knight family will will step in as the honorary grand marshals.

The parade route is James Bohanan Drive at National Road, to Dixie Drive and National Road. Then it continues to North on Dixie Drive to Inverness Drive, according to Hopkins.

For more information about the parade contact Hopkins at (937) 898-5891.

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