Historic Englewood Florida
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Page 28 Historic Englewood Guide 2022 T he Pioneer Days Parade has been a tra- dition in Englewood since the first one in 1956. The parade took a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 and construc- tion issues in 2020 and 2021, but organizers plan to bring it back this Labor Day as part of the 66th Pioneer Days celebration in Englewood. In the spirit of this year's Pioneer Days theme, "Back to the Future," we thought you would enjoy some high- lights from past Pioneer Days parades. Enjoy! The Pioneer Days Parade through the years PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIANA HARRIS Top: The first parade in honor of Pioneers Days marched down West Dearborn Street. It is remembered that the whole town turned out for it. Half of the small town was in the parade, the other half were spectators. Left: Little Miss Nancy Czerwinski Looney, left, on her trike, is lined up for the start of the 1956 Pioneer Days Decorated Bicycle event. It was a very popular early category for kiddies in the big parade. Beside bikes it included tricycles, carts, wagons and doll carriages. Nancy entered the next year billing herself as the "Starfish Queen" and won first prize. All 45 children who entered the first year received a silver dollar. Jo Cortes, in her constant push for PR for Englewood's Pioneer Days, billed it as the Largest Bicycle Parade in Florida. Photo by Woody Thayer.