Parades for the Ronald McDonald House

How are parades and root beer connected?  Got it?  You’re right if you answered summertime floats.  We’re hoping to get a healthy dose of both traditions at this year’s Harrisburg Days and Tea Pot Days. The Saturday parades fall on two consecutive weekends in June, scheduled for June 9^th and June 16^th, and the South Dakota Ronald McDonald House will be participating to raise awareness for the charity and connect with the surrounding communities. That means we’ll be stocking up on Pop Tab houses and candy to give away and lining up an itinerary of big-time, small town fun.  

At 10:30 on Saturday, June 9^th begins  the parade at Harrisburg, and additionally there will be an Arts Festival, car and tractor show, kids carnival and pedal pull through the day.  The Lost Highway band will perform a free show that evening.  More information about the schedule and parade details can be found at www.harrisburgdays.com.  

The Tea Pot Days parade begins at 10 a.m. on Brian Street going east, where the Ronald McDonald House will again be greeting people through the streets.  With a Teapot display in the Community Hall beginning at 11 a.m., the event really does feature a tea pot collection!  

Their carnival goes from noon to dusk, and there’s free swimming at the Tea swimming pool in the afternoon.  Pie and ice cream are being served at the Trinity Lutheran Church starting at noon and the Andy Gibson Band will play their mix of country and Top 40 rock music beginning at 6:30 until the fireworks begin at 10:30 p.m.  See www.teasd.com for more details on the weekend’s events.

With two weekends and two towns to explore, there’s plenty of excitement brimming for June. Whether you’ve attended before or will be joining in for the first time, summer is for celebrating our communities and relationships. Seeing the Ronald McDonald House thriving in South Dakota through these festivities connects the care extended from here and the people served in yet another way.