Cleveland Celebrates Annual Pioneer Day With Parade, Music

Our own Tess Maune was in Cleveland today to help celebrate Pioneer Day. With a parade theme of “True Grit,” she rode along with the U.S. Marshals Posse as they made their way down Main Street.

Saturday, September 20th 2014, 6:22 pm

By: News On 6

Cleveland Celebrates Annual Pioneer Day With Parade, Music

Our own Tess Maune was in Cleveland today to help celebrate Pioneer Day and the spirit of the Cherokee Outlet settlers.

With a parade theme of “True Grit,” Maune rode along with the U.S. Marshals Posse as they made their way down Main Street and among the century-old buildings to the lines of spectators. The parade also featured Clarance Benes from Morrison, who was in character as John Wayne's “Rooster Cogburn.” Oklahoma State University's Pistol Pete, Pawnee Bill, the Akdar Shriners, the local marching band, the high school homecoming court, classic car owners and lots of folks showing off their horsemanship also made appearances.

Personifying “True Grit” were the Grand Marshals of the parade -- Cleveland kids who have survived or are battling cancer. They rode in a white horsedrawn carriage and held a photo in memory of another local boy, Bryce Edwards, who lost his battle with the disease over the summer.

2/2/2014 Related Story: Cleveland Boy Battling Leukemia Keeps Hope Alive On Birthday

The day is an annual celebration of the town's original homesteaders and pioneer vision on the prairie. Cleveland's first Pioneer Day was on Sept. 16, 1937 -- 44 years to the day after the Cherokee Outlet opened to settlers and Cleveland was later established along the Arkansas River.

A petting zoo put on by the Cleveland FFA, "gunfights" by the U.S. Marshals Posse, music and vendors will continue throughout the evening.

While gospel acts entertained during the morning hours, there will be two concerts and a street dance Saturday night. Both acts are well known in Green Country and are comprised of Cleveland natives. “Bruce Flea” is a alternative rock band and it takes the stage at 6 p.m. Brent Giddens and the VCR Band (vintage country rock) will play at 8 p.m., while folks scoot their boots on the old brick street at Delaware at the Broadway intersection.