Lots of towns have parades celebrating holidays and historical events, but only Oxford has one celebrating its connection to one of the most iconic characters in popular American culture ? the Lone Ranger.
On Saturday, Aug. 1 at 11 a.m. sharp, the Third Annual Lone Ranger Parade is set to roll through downtown Oxford, delighting people of all ages with its pageantry and whimsical assortment of old-fashioned family fun.
‘I thought the last two years were phenomenal,? said parade organizer Rod Charles. ‘Our goal has been to bring attention to Oxford for the right reasons, and I think to that end, we’ve been extraordinarily successful.?
Established in 2013, the parade celebrates Oxford’s unique connection to the famous fictional masked lawman via the late Brace Beemer, who portrayed the character on coast-to-coast radio from 1941-54. Beemer lived in Oxford Township on W. Drahner Rd. from 1942 until his death in 1965.
More than 70 entries are signed up for the parade, which will begin at the Oxford Marketplace shopping center at the village’s south end and head north along M-24 to the fire station at Church St.
‘It’s been getting bigger every year,? Charles said.
Parade entries include both the Oxford and Lake Orion high school marching bands, 2015 Ms. Senior Michigan Linda Sisco, the legendary Wells Fargo stagecoach, classic cars, tractors, local businesses, comic book superheroes, Detroit Shriners, floats, llamas, junior athletes, cheerleaders, scouts, veterans, equestrians, fire trucks, musicians, and of course, the Lone Ranger and Tonto.
The parade is the focal point of the Lone Ranger Festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. The festival includes a car show; kids activities; 60-plus vendors; pancake breakfast at Immanuel Congregational United Church of Christ (7:30 a.m.); ice cream social at Oxford United Methodist Church; food, beverage and cigar stations; live musical entertainment; a beer tent at the Oxford Tap; a pie-eating contest and a horseshoe tournament (for details, see Page 8.).
A special section with more information about the parade, festival and its sponsors along with Brace Beemer history and Lone Ranger trivia is included with this week’s issue.
This year’s parade theme is ‘brotherhood,? something Charles argues today’s world needs a lot more of in light of all the tragedy, violence and hatred that dominate the daily headlines.
To Charles, the enduring friendship between the Lone Ranger and Tonto is the epitome of brotherhood.
It’s a shining example of two people from different races and different cultures who work together to right wrongs, help innocent people and fight for universal values.
‘There’s a mutual respect and admiration there,? Charles said. ‘That’s truly what I thought about.?
Instead of having a traditional grand marshal, this year’s parade will be dedicated to the memory of Helen Smith, a longtime Oxford resident and passionate community booster who passed away July 13 at the age of 81.
To symbolize the loss of Smith, a woman dressed in black will lead a riderless horse carrying a pair of boots. This is often done in funeral processions for U.S. presidents and fallen soldiers.
‘There’s an element of poignancy there,? Charles said. ‘It’s a very powerful and meaningful image. I thought it would be appropriate for Helen given how much she meant to our community and everything she did.?
A banner, created by OC Photoworx, containing a color photo of Smith and the message, ‘Oxford Remembers Helen Smith: The Original Wildcat? will precede the horse.
Charles believes honoring someone like Smith is something that’s important in a place like Oxford because unlike other areas, this is more than just a zip code.
‘I think, personally, that’s something distinctive about Oxford,? he said. ‘It’s still a town that has a sense of community. Oxford still has that word ‘community? attached to it.?
Charles is quite excited that nine unique works of art from the Big Head Corps will be prominently featured in the Lone Ranger Parade. These are the same big heads seen every year in Detroit’s Thanksgiving parade.
Owned by the Detroit-based Parade Company, the big head collection is world-renown. These colorful artifacts were originally acquired from artists in Viareggio, Italy. Some of them date back to the 1940s. The ‘ever-expanding collection? consists of nearly 300 heads and includes animals, bugs, Keystone Cops, Michigan/Detroit celebrities, clowns and children’s storybook characters.
The big heads set to march in the Lone Ranger Parade include legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, Detroit Red Wings Hall of Famer Gordie Howe, Detroit Tigers manager Sparky Anderson, automotive innovator Henry Ford, an Indian boy, a rabbit, a horse, a clown and a colorful toucan.
‘Not only do they up the entertainment factor (for the parade), but there’s a little bit of history involved,? Charles said. ‘To bring these big heads from the historic Detroit Thanksgiving parade to Oxford, I think, is really special for our town.?
Charles is also excited to have Rochester resident Mike Van Daal in the parade again. He dresses up like actor Johnny Depp’s version of Tonto from the 2013 Lone Ranger movie.
‘Mike spends two hours putting on his makeup,? he said. ‘He’s phenomenal.?