Haymarket Day was Sept. 17

The 23rd annual Haymarket Day was Sept. 17. The parade through town began at 9:30 a.m. and lasted about an hour; the day wound down at 4 p.m.

The event is managed in cooperation with the town by Kim Ingalls and Gerry Kennedy of Spend the Day in Haymarket, a company whose charter is to make people aware of Haymarket, its businesses and unique friendly atmosphere. 

This year, two grand marshals were chosen. “We wanted to pay tribute to the legacy of the late Alan Gossom.” Some family members rode in the parade, Kennedy said. As a lifelong Haymarket resident, Gossom was a Haymarket icon and known as a giving person.

The second grand marshal is Haymarket’s Lucas Clark, 3. He was born in May 2008; four months later was diagnosed with Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the most severe form of the genetic illness, which is a neuromuscular disease resulting in progressive muscular atrophy and weakness. His family and friends formed the Believe in Lucas Clark Foundation to heighten awareness and to raise funds for a cure.

Little Lucas rode in the parade with his parents, Louis and Tabitha, his sister and cousins. Lucas’ grandfather, Darrell Coffey, a long-time electrician in Haymarket, pulled the float on a trailer. After the parade, his parents set up a booth for people to learn more about SMA and their foundation.

Before the parade, the Haymarket Woman’s Club cooked and served a traditional country breakfast in the town hall. The hot breakfast was served from 7 to 9:30 a.m.

The parade started near the intersection of VA 55 and U.S. 15; it travelled east, ending in front of the Haymarket Police Department. Parade participants included local police, fire and rescue, civic groups, churches, school marching bands, clubs, businesses and politicians.

Trolley cars ran again to offer people free rides to parking areas or to simply catch a ride for fun to go up and down the town’s main street.

Vendors and activities were set up along Washington Street. Two areas were designated for crafters, one on Washington and Fayette streets and another at town hall. There were also food areas.

Five “zones,” were detailed on a map available at an information booth, will be offered: NASCAR, youngsters and teens, stage and vendor, Haymarket Museum and the Red House Ordinary at the intersection of Washington and Jefferson streets.

As usual, Haymarket Day was a big draw for the town. More information about Haymarket Day can be found on the town’s website http://www.townofhaymarket.org Infor.mation about the Believe in Lucas Clark Foundation can be found at http://www.believeinlucas.org .