MADISON – Hundreds lined Main Street Saturday morning to watch the annual Madison Anson Days parade, reminiscent of the 1970s when people wore colorful bell-bottoms and danced to disco music.

Derek Connors holds his 1-year-old daughter, Piper, as they wait for the Madison Anson Days Parade to begin Saturday in Madison. Piper’s mother, Olivia Goguen, was with them at the parade. Amy Calder/Morning Sentinel

“Throwback to the ’70s: Let’s Get Groovy” is the theme of the four-day, two-city festival that began Thursday and includes a fishing derby, river cruises, book and craft sales, live music, children’s games, historical presentations and plenty of food.

The parade began at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Anson Town Office and traveled across the bridge over the Kennebec River to Main Street in Madison, where people took advantage of sales at Renys Department Store and purchased cotton candy, crafts and food along the street.

“We come every year,” said Jaime Smith, 40, of North Anson, who was waiting for the parade with her daughter Kallie, 9. “I really like looking at the old Hannaford truck and the floats. We’ll shop at Reny’s and probably go to the fair up the street by the old junior high school.”

Kallie said she enjoyed seeing the animals Friday night in front of the Anson Town Office, where there was also an air slide and pony rides.

“Today is my brother’s birthday,” she purred.

The Madison High School Bulldogs football team marches behind the Little Wonders Child Care Center float in the Madison Anson Days Parade on Saturday. The four-day, two-city event celebrating the twin cities along the Kennebec River in Somerset County continues on Sunday. Amy Calder/Morning Sentinel

As they spoke, Jaime Smith called out, “Hi Jim!” to a man passing by.

“It’s nice to see old friends and people I grew up with,” she said. “I hadn’t seen Jim in about a year. It was nice to see him.”

The long parade featured floats with adults and children dressed in 1970s fashions such as minidresses, skirts and floral-print sweaters, as well as hats and sunglasses. Madison High School football players marched, horses and their riders trotted by, and floats representing veterans and other organizations drove by. The Kora Shriners’ Drifters, Klowns and Motor Corps, as well as Girl Scouts, churches, the Madison Anson ATV Club and more were among the parade participants.

“It’s nice,” said Darryl Landry, 62, of Madison, as he stood on Main Street. “I don’t usually go to the parade, but today I decided to go out. It’s nice weather. It’s good. I like the ATVs. It’s like a family parade like old times.”

The atmosphere was joyful and festive as parade participants threw handfuls of candy to children and adults along the parade route and a man handed out bottles of water.

On Saturday it was sunny and temperatures were around 27 degrees. On a meadow north of the city center there were several tents where vendors sold homemade fudge, jewelry, handicrafts, plants, clothing, cosmetic products and other goods.

Girls ride horses in the Madison Anson Days Parade on Saturday. The four-day event celebrating the twin cities along the Kennebec River in Somerset County continues on Sunday. Amy Calder/Morning Sentinel

Ralph Withee, 82, of Anson, strolled the grounds with his daughter, Ann Heald. Withee, the parade’s grand marshal, had driven through town in the back seat of a red Oldsmobile Cutlass as the crowd cheered.

Ralph Withee was the Grand Marshal of the Madison Anson Days Parade. “I was very honored,” said Withee of his election as Grand Marshal. Amy Calder/Morning Sentinel

“I was very honored,” Withee said of his election as Grand Marshal.

He served in the U.S. Air Force, after which he was a city councilman and firefighter in Anson for about 18 years. He served on the board of the Anson and Madison Water District for 16 years, the Anson Madison Sewer District for 10 years, the New Portland and Skowhegan Lions Clubs for a total of 25 years, the Madison Kiwanis Club for 27 years, the American Legion Post 39 in Madison for 26 years and was commander for 13 of those years. He has been a member of the VFW Auxiliary for 20 years and was a member of the Madison Food Cupboard for 30 years, the Skowhegan Elks Club for 18 years and a member of the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments for nearly 30 years.

“I tried hunting, but I didn’t like it. I tried fishing, but I didn’t like it. I tried golf, but I didn’t enjoy it,” Withee said. “I gave that up. It was a waste of time. I enjoy what I do – community service.”

Withee has been married to his high school sweetheart Charlotte for 61 years, he said.

Thursday’s activities included a magic show, dynamite cooking contest and a book yard sale at the library; Friday featured a children’s bike race, carnival, street dancing, pig race and pony rides; and Sunday’s schedule includes a 5K run/walk, smallmouth bass fishing contest and the Lakewood Golf Tournament.

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