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A bash to remember – Winding Stairs Festival celebrates 25 years

Saturday’s grand parade well attended

Members of both the Traer and Clutier American Legions lead off the 25th Annual Winding Stairs Festival’s grand parade down Walnut Street last Saturday afternoon in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
A member of Kubik-Finch American Legion Post 142 pictured driving the Post’s parade float tractor in the 25th Winding Stairs Festival grand parade last Saturday in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Just one of Traer Fire’s many entries pictured making its way down the Walnut Street hill last Saturday during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
Adam Greiner (left) and Gabe Kopriva (second from left) – members of North Tama Class of 2022 – ride atop a Traer Fire truck as members of North Tama’s 2021 state-qualifying football team. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Aubree Monat (left) and Molly Vogeler (second from left) – members of the North Tama Class of 2022 – ride atop a Traer Fire truck as members of North Tama’s 2021 state-qualifying volleyball team. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Members of the North Tama Dance Team participate in the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on Walnut Street in Traer last Saturday, August 13. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Larry Winkelpleck, Jr. of rural Dysart smiles and waves from his spot on Walnut Street where he took in the sights and sounds of the Winding Stairs Festival’s grand parade along with hundreds of other spectators on Saturday, August 13, in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
The Wind-Up Lounge float pictured on Saturday, August 13, on Walnut Street in Traer during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Tyler Popelka throws candy and koozies as part of the Perfect Circle parade entry on Saturday, August 13, in Traer during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Tama County District 1 Supervisor candidate Randie Brodigan of Dysart tosses candy to the crowd during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Tama County District 1 Supervisor candidate Curt Hilmer of Dysart smiles to the crowd from his golf cart during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 76 Kate Wyatt (D-Hudson) participates in the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. Republican candidate Derek Wulf (not pictured) and his family also participated in the parade. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
Carri Holst, a member of the Traer City Council, drives the State Farm–Morris Insurance Agency parade float in the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Traer United Presbyterian Church participates in the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
A member of Traer United Presbyterian Church gets into this year’s Winding Stairs Festival theme – ‘If You Mustache, It’s Our 25th Bash!’ – during the festival’s grand parade on August 13. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
A young member of Traer United Presbyterian Church displays the spirit of this year’s Winding Stairs Festival theme – ‘If You Mustache, It’s Our 25th Bash!’ – during the festival’s grand parade on August 13. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
They’re ‘one in a minion’! The Pied Piper Preschool and Childcare float pictured on Saturday, August 13, on Walnut Street in Traer during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
A legion of red Farmall tractors drives in formation in memory of North Tama Class of 2020 graduate Levi Ryan Beenken (2001-2020) in the Winding Stairs Festival on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
A tiny tot travels front and center on the Wilson Tiling float during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Emma Winkelpleck – owner of Dysart’s Em Kaye’s Boutique and a North Tama High School graduate – smiles as she participates in the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
The Junkyard float pictured on Saturday, August 13, on Walnut Street in Traer during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Thumbs up from Jon Winkelpleck of rural Dysart as he drives the Tama County Against Turbine’s parade float in the Winding Stairs Festival on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Members of the North Tama Class of 1957 – celebrating their 65th reunion this year – smile and wave during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Members of the North Tama Class of 1967 smile and wave to the crowd during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
The North Tama Class of 1972 parade float pictured during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Members of the North Tama Class of 1977 smile and wave during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Members of the North Tama Class of 1982 wave to those they recognize in the crowd along Walnut Street during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Members of the North Tama Class of 2002 – including Amber Monat (standing) – throw candy to crowd along Walnut Street during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
Amber Monat – North Tama Class of 2002, one of seven classes honored this year as part of the Winding Stairs Festival – flashes the peace sign during the festival’s grand parade last Saturday in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
Members of the North Tama Class of 2007 toss candy to the crowd along Walnut Street during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister
While some members of the North Tama band wave to the crowd, others play the school’s fight song during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
Johnathan Cochran plays the saxophone as part of the North Tama Schools’ band float during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
North Tama band director Channing Halstead – celebrating a birthday! – smiles while participating in the trumpet section as part of the band’s float during the Winding Stairs Festival grand parade on August 13 in Traer. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
Traer Fire’s new 55-foot aerial ladder truck pictured in downtown Traer on Saturday, August 13, during the Winding Stair Festival. The newly-restickered 1990 truck – a donation the department received this past winter from Cedar Falls council member David Sires – is set to enter service in September, Chief Tyler Sell said at the most recent city council meeting. –Photo by Ruby F. McAllister

It was a bash to remember last Saturday afternoon in downtown Traer as several hundred folks lined up along Walnut and Second streets for the Winding Stairs Festival’s 25th grand parade. The parade featured a variety of floats including local businesses/organizations; school teams; the North Tama pep band led by director Channing Halstead; candidates for office including Randie Brodigan and Curt Hilmer for county supervisor, Kathy Holtz for county treasurer, and Kate Wyatt and Derek Wulf for Iowa House District 76; seven North Tama/Traer honored reunion classes; both the Traer and Clutier American Legions; at least two blocks worth of Traer Fire vehicles including the new aerial truck, and many more. The Thursday evening prior, the inaugural kiddie/pet and ranger/golf cart parades were held downtown, as well as the mustache competition in honor of this year’s theme – ‘It You Mustache, It’s Our 25th Bash!’ A variety of games, activities, and entertainment took place during the four days of family fun held along two closed blocks on Second Street, making for a 25th bash many won’t soon forget.