ELLINWOOD — Overcast skies made for a pleasant morning Saturday when the Ellinwood After Harvest Festival parade brought crowds to the red, brick streets of the community.
While temperatures usually hover around the hundred degree mark or higher this time of year, the scent of rain mixed with roasting corn and barbecue for parade viewers.
The parade highlighted the three day event which started off with a bang with a free concert with country-western singer Logan Mize, which filled City Park with 1700 people.
Grand Marshals Dr. Charlie Joslin and Dr. Chris Brown greeted the community. They were chosen for their contributions to the Ellinwood community.
The Golden Belt Humane Society brought out the dogs in force, hoping to find a forever home for the animals.
Always the third weekend in July, the After Harvest Festival brought first time viewers and politicians seeking reelection. Among those in the parade were Sam Brownback, Pat Roberts, Sally Cauble, Meg Wilson, Kris Kobach, Clark Shultz, Mitch Holmes, Derek Schmidt, Alan LaPolice and J. Basil Dannebohm as well as local politicians Jennifer Schartz, Ken Lebbin  and Alicia Straub.
Miss Barton County, Bonnie Boltinghouse, waved to the crowds, and brides in search of husbands donned running shoes and sunglasses, and raced through the crowd in search of a husband.
The rain held off and the sun broke through the clouds at times, turning the morning hot for the crowds thronging downtown Ellinwood.
Throughout the weekend, businesses competed against each other in the Business Olympics, runners ran in the 5K, kids rode the rides at the carnival, tourists toured the tunnels, and there was ice cream and food aplenty throughout the weekend.