(June 2, 2016) The rain couldn’t dampen the spirit of community that normally highlights the Old Fashioned Memorial Day Parade in Berlin on Monday, as several hundred people and five local youth dance groups moved indoors to the multipurpose building on Flower Street for an impromptu celebration that played to a packed house.
Outside, working under a large tent, volunteers from Lincoln Lodge 53 put together a fish fry. By about 11 a.m., the time when the parade was supposed to start, they were up and running and ready to cook for whoever came out.
“Normally, we’re here with the Memorial Day Parade, but with the rain it got canceled,” Jabbar Mills said, adding that he still expected a good crowd of people despite the poor conditions.
Just down the street, St. Paul United Methodist Church went on with the show indoors, cooking crab cakes and chicken.
Inside the multipurpose building’s kitchen, more volunteers and workers made fried chicken and chicken and dumplings, while a DJ played hip hop and dance music in the main hall.
Tony Bowen, who was supposed to help judge the parade, instead pitched in as a greeter and doorman at the front entrance.
“I found out at about 9:30 or so this morning that the parade had been canceled,” he said. “But I live right down the street and my wife is working in the kitchen, so I thought I’d help. I’m just killing time.”
Lakema Hayward, an instructor with the Berlin Heat and Praise Ablaze dance groups, took over as emcee of the main event, which also featured local groups Destructive Divas and the Destructive Dancers, as well as the Salisbury Elite and the Salisbury Top Rockers.
“We’re going to go on and get rocking. The rain can’t hold us down,” she said just before the first group took the floor. “People can expect a lot of energy, a lot of fun and excitement.”
That enthusiasm spilled out onto the crowd just feet away from the dancers. Several times, they were asked to move back, out of range of the frenetic movements of the performers.
It might not have been exactly what organizers originally envisioned when they started planning for Memorial Day back in January, but by the end of the roughly hour-long showcase the crowd left with smiles on their faces.
The Old Fashioned Memorial Day Parade was the third straight Berlin event to be canceled or cut short by rain. Still, hundreds of people came together to enjoy the holiday, and the dozens of local youth who clearly put in plenty of hard work were able to show off their talents to plenty of cheers and applause.
Outside, working under a large tent, volunteers from Lincoln Lodge 53 put together a fish fry. By about 11 a.m., the time when the parade was supposed to start, they were up and running and ready to cook for whoever came out.
“Normally, we’re here with the Memorial Day Parade, but with the rain it got canceled,” Jabbar Mills said, adding that he still expected a good crowd of people despite the poor conditions.
Just down the street, St. Paul United Methodist Church went on with the show indoors, cooking crab cakes and chicken.
Inside the multipurpose building’s kitchen, more volunteers and workers made fried chicken and chicken and dumplings, while a DJ played hip hop and dance music in the main hall.
Tony Bowen, who was supposed to help judge the parade, instead pitched in as a greeter and doorman at the front entrance.
“I found out at about 9:30 or so this morning that the parade had been canceled,” he said. “But I live right down the street and my wife is working in the kitchen, so I thought I’d help. I’m just killing time.”
Lakema Hayward, an instructor with the Berlin Heat and Praise Ablaze dance groups, took over as emcee of the main event, which also featured local groups Destructive Divas and the Destructive Dancers, as well as the Salisbury Elite and the Salisbury Top Rockers.
“We’re going to go on and get rocking. The rain can’t hold us down,” she said just before the first group took the floor. “People can expect a lot of energy, a lot of fun and excitement.”
That enthusiasm spilled out onto the crowd just feet away from the dancers. Several times, they were asked to move back, out of range of the frenetic movements of the performers.
It might not have been exactly what organizers originally envisioned when they started planning for Memorial Day back in January, but by the end of the roughly hour-long showcase the crowd left with smiles on their faces.
The Old Fashioned Memorial Day Parade was the third straight Berlin event to be canceled or cut short by rain. Still, hundreds of people came together to enjoy the holiday, and the dozens of local youth who clearly put in plenty of hard work were able to show off their talents to plenty of cheers and applause.