The Cat in the Hat got a little help from his friends pedalling this strange, strange thing.

An eager crowd of Oberlin citizens and students lined the sidewalks of East College Street Saturday morning awaiting the arrival of the third annual Big Parade.

Child-toting parents, ice cream clinging youngsters conversing senior citizens and drowsy college students added to the crowd until about 11:45 when an orange monster on wheels greeted parade-goers.

Groups representing both town and gown followed, including Oberlin Steel, Kendal at Oberlin, Peace Community Church, OCOPE, the belly dancing troupe, and Contact Improv.

A group encouraging voting in the November election carried signs reading “Today is May, November is a must” and “Put on your ballot shoes.”

Musical performances ranged from a bagpipe ensemble to the OC Marching Band’s rendition of the Sesame Street theme. Creative floats and decorated bikes could be admired throughout.

“The Big Parade was started a few years ago by students to bring the community and the school together more, and it really does,” Megan Schieth, a representative of CATSS, said.

Oberlin students at the event seemed to agreee.

“While the Parade is not realistically going to bridge the vast gap between the town and the college,” organizer and college junior Tim Gibbons said, “it is one of the few times of the year in which campus and community members inhabit the same space and have a good time together.”

This year’s parade has been in the works for months, as participants have been attending workshops held each Tuesday and Saturday at the former Buick dealership to make floats, costumes, and puppets.

A number of different people and groups had a hand in the organization of the parade. Page Neal, a senior, was a central organizing force.

“Probably the most valuable work of the parade is done in the months of preparation; float-making, workshops, and networking, in which various town and college groups and individuals collaborate on projects--sometimes some real connections are made,” Gibbons said.

The parade also draws added business to stores in downtown Oberlin.

“People came in from out of town that store owners may or may not recognize as regular customers,” Geof Comings, a representative of Main Street Oberlin Inc., said. “It was better than the average Saturday.
A festival in Tappan Square, where people gathered for free food and entertainment, followed the parade. There was a decent-sized crowd, despite the inclement weather.

Oberlin Steel, Nothing But Treble, the And What?! Hip-hop dance group, Icho Daiko drumming group, Erika Kulnys Band, In It to Win It, and other groups gave stunning performances.

Representatives from various organizations assembled tables in the square, including CATSS, America Reads, Youth Energy Project, OSTA, the EXCO Committee, and Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization.

In addition to the large web of organizers from the town and College, OSCA, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, the Bill Long Foundation, and the College all sponsored the parade.
An air bounce, pie eating contest and other various games ensured a fun day for all.

“What’s so great about this day is that there are so many different people here that you don’t usually see together,” first-year Nayeem Mahbub said, “Everyone’s together, everyone’s happy.”