Gallery: Hattiesburg Loves a Parade

This photo from an unidentified parade was taken in the early 1900's on Main Street in front of the courthouse. It features the Hattiesburg Furniture Company's horse-drawn float. F. H. Waggoner and Lurlyne Collins are among those riding in the wagon.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 5/6/1979

Downtown business owners invited car owners to a 1922 parade consisting only of Ford automobiles. Contestants gathered at the Barron Motor Company and paraded down Main Street past a judge's stand where vehicles competed for titles such as "best looking car," "worst looking car," "car with the most people in one load," and "car with the oldest engine number."

Source: Hattiesburg American, 11/2/1922

This Christmas time snapshot dates back to the 1930's. In the background are the old Colonial Bread bakery, the Baby Furniture Company, the City Market and the Regal Cafe. The Hattiesburg Jaycees have sponsored the city's annual Christmas parade since 1950.

Sources: Hattiesburg American, 10/2/1983; Pine Belt News, 11/30/2023

This 1946 Army Day photo shows the Allied Army Store and the Edgar Jewelry Company in the background. With Camp Shelby close by, military parades were not uncommon in the early 1940's (the World War II years). Their aim was to keep spirits high on the home front as well as to help raise funds for the war effort.

Source: HAHS archives

City leaders often use parades as an opportunity to greet voters. Onlookers wave in this 1949 Main Street photo of Mayor D. W. Holmes' Inaugural Parade. Sarphie's Jewelers and the K.C. Steak House are shown in the background.

How about that convertible: remember white sidewall tires? And do you remember when men wore hats?

Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mikemccool/posts/140027716131724

1949 saw Hattiesburg celebrate "Know Your Automobile Dealer Week" with a downtown parade consisting of all the new car makes and models that were available at the time. A few trucks were included.

Familiar brand names such as Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln, Oldsmobile were included, but so were brand names that are no longer with us such as Desoto, Dodge, Henry J, Hudson, Kaiser, Nash, Packard, Rambler, Studebaker and Willys.

World War II saw a limited supply of automobiles to civilians, so post-war events such as this parade celebrated the demise of rationing and the return of better times for American business.

Source: Hattiesburg American- 11/2/1949

Yes, in Hattiesburg, even pets get their 15 minutes of fame. This photo shows some of the award-winning pets and their owners in the early 1950's after participating in a downtown pet parade. Mayor D. W. Holmes served as one of the judges.

Awards were given for the dog with the shortest ears, longest ears, cleanest, shortest hair, longest hair, longest tail, smallest, fattest and best tricks performer. Jitney Jungle and Swift & Co. sponsored the parade and contest.

The pet parade tradition was continued in 2019 with the first annual HattiesBARK parade and blockPAWTY sponsored by the Saenger Theater and the city of Hattiesburg.

Sources: Undated Hattiesburg American article; Pine Belt News, 5/12/2020

15,000 spectators witnessed the 1951 parade held in honor of World War II Congressional Medal of Honor winner Lt. Henry A. Commiskey.

Sponsored by the Hattiesburg Jaycees, the three-mile long parade included the Hattiesburg High School band, seven floats and numerous cars representing Spanish-American war veterans, the American Legion, the VFW, Scouts (Boy, Girl & Cub), individuals and business firms.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 8/4/1951

The 46 members of Hattiesburg High's Y-Teen organization banned together to create a virtual fundraising parade for the Easter Seal Society in 1956.

Club members solicited donations from local residents (presumably pedestrians in the downtown area) in exchange for lapel-sized imitation lilies. The project was sponsored by the Crippled Childrens' drive in Forrest County.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 1956

'The Big Circus' advertisement

This 1959 downtown parade photo is from our archives. We don't know exactly which circus was in town, but we couldn't help but notice that the Saenger Theater used the opportunity for a little free advertising. A promotional poster for "The Big Circus" movie is inlaid in the photo.

Source: HAHS archives

The University of Southern Mississippi has held homecoming activities since 1925. This 1962 photo shows the Kappa Delta sorority float on Pine Street parade. The Pickwick Cafe and the J. Ed Turner Real Estate office can be seen in the background.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 11/19/1962

This early 1960's Civil War Centennial parade photo was taken on Main Street. The old downtown Sears store (across from the Forrest County Court House) is shown on the right, and the former public library (now the Cultural Center) is in the background.

The Paul B. Johnson Chancery Court Building currently resides at the site of the old Sears Building, and the William Colmer Federal Building occupies the empty space in the photo next to the old library.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=197562299287&set=g.35790313558

Hattiesburg's celebration of America's 200th birthday included a Hardy Street parade that ran from the corner of Pine & Hardy to Kamper Park. In spite of a rainy start, the celebration drew thousands to the city for bicentennial festivities.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 7/6/76

Hattiesburg celebrated the 100th birthday of its founding in 1982. Festivities included a May 1st parade. The route began at Blair High and proceeded down Hardy, McLeod, Main, Pine Streets and ended at the corner of Hardy and Pine Streets.

Mrs. William B. Clagett, the granddaughter of Hattiesburg founder William H. Hardy, served as the parade's grand mashall.

Sources: Hattiesburg American, 6/24/1967; Hattiesburg American, 3/25/1982; Hattiesburg American, 4/30/1982

Hattiesburg's first Old Time Festival was held in 1986. The downtown event features a variety of arts, crafts and entertainment aimed to please both children and adults.

Source: https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/picture-gallery/news/2014/04/28/the-good-old-days/8423857/

Hattiesburg's Black History Month parades date back to at least the 1990's.

The 1993 parade was sponsored by WORV-AM/WJMG-FM radio and drew 132 floats and vehicles. The parade route began and ended at the radio station's office on Graveline Street and covered Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, Main and Mobile Streets.

Sources: Hattiesburg American, 2/28/1993; Hattiesurg American, 2/26/2017

Alumni of Eureka, Royal Street, Rowan and Hattiesburg high schools (EUROHA) held their 15th biennial school reunion in 2015. Festivities included a sock hop, golf tournament, talent show, a ball, an athletic breakfast and, of course, a parade.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 7/2/2015

One doesn't necessarily need floats and trinkets to create an exciting parade. Just ask the students at the Thames Elementary School in 2009.

In order to promote literacy, a representative from each class dressed as his/her favorite book character. Participants paraded past contest judges who selected the student with the best costumed character. The event was sponsored by the school's PTA.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 10/31/2009

Hattiesburg's first Veteran's Day Parade was held in 2011 with retired Col. George R. Hall serving as grand marshal.

Participants in the 2011 parade included the Camp Shelby Color Guard, members of the Youth Challenge Program and high school & university bands. The route began at the McLeod Street fire station and ended on Railroad Street.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 11/2011

Organized by the Avenues Alliance, 2012 marked Hattiesburg's inaugural Halloween parade. The route began at 24th Avenue, ran down Hardy Street and ended at Kamper Park. Spectators young and old alike lined the streets at dusk to watch this first-time attraction.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 10/31/2012

"Throw me something, Mister" is a familiar sound among spectators attending Mardi Gras parades. Always a crowd pleaser, children and adults enjoy catching colorful beads and trinkets thrown from passing floats.

The Elks Club staged their first parade in 1969. The Caerus parade has been in Hattiesburg since 2012, while The Krewe of Saint Catherine held its first downtown walking parade in 2023.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 2/13/1969; 1/31/2024

2013 saw the city's first annual Pink Monday parade promoting breast cancer awareness and supporting survivors and current cancer fighters. The more than 40 vehicle parade in 2020 started at Green Street, traveled through downtown and ended at Town Square Park.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 10/15/2020

The city of Hattiesburg held its first annual Parade of Champions in 2018. The downtown procession is a celebration of the accomplishments of individuals (students, teachers, administrators) from affiliated schools and local universities. Participants are recognized for their outstanding academic, athletic and extra-curricular endeavors.

The parade is the Hattiesburg community's way of saying to these individuals "job well done."

Sources: Hub City Spokes, 2024; https://www.hattiesburgms.com/daily/city-hattiesburg-hosts-parade-champions/

In a show of support for Hattiesburg's Claiborne Senior Living Facility during the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of cars formed a parade in 2020 to the delight of residents.

Seniors sat at a comfortable distance from the passing cars and waved at participants. Residents and staff alike enjoyed the heartwarming experience.

Source: Hattiesburg American, 5/10/2020