Parade route altered for West Fest

Plans are in high gear for West Fest, West Fargo's 18th annual community celebration, Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, this year working off the theme "We're Building for the Future," in accordance with all the road construction that has been occurring on the city's roadways.

Because of all the roadwork, the typical route for the Grand Parade scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday, has been altered to accommodate the ease and safety of both parade participants and spectators.

Registration will take place at the alleyway on 4th Street East between 4th and 3rd Avenue East by the Lodoen Community Center. The reserved section of the parade will line up west of 4th Street on 3rd Avenue, while general parade entrants will line up on 1st Avenue East, 5th Street East and 3rd Avenue east of 4th Street.

The actual parade route will travel west on 2nd Avenue to Sheyenne Street with the official starting point the corner of 2nd Avenue and Sheyenne Street. The parade will travel south on Sheyenne Street to 10th Avenue, which will be the termination point.

From here, parade participants will be directed east on 10th Avenue to 2nd Street East traveling north back to the Lodoen Center, where they will disperse.

The oversized vehicles, like the tractors and combines will be parked on Sheyenne Street between Main and 2nd Avenue and as their spots in the parade come up, they will be interjected. At the concluding point of the parade, these units will continue to travel south and go to 13th Avenue, instead of driving through residential areas of town.

Centenarian Goldie Houkom, longtime West Fargo resident, will serve as parade grand marshal this year, joined by members of the Houkom family.

Other West Fest highlights will include: the 7th annual Mike McLeod Softball Tournament at Elmwood Park, Alzheimer's Association 5K run/walk at Rendezvous Park,