A Brief History

We’re excited to announce that applications for the 35th Annual Arts in the Alley Community Parade are now available! This cherished tradition began in 1990, inspired by the Grove City High School Marching Band’s invitation to perform in the Rose Bowl Parade. That year, three significant events sparked the idea for a downtown parade: Arts in the Alley, the dedication of the new $1.8 million Grove City Safety Building, and the recognition of the marching band’s future participation in the 1999 Tournament of Roses Parade.

Faced with the challenge of managing traffic and getting 40 public and elected officials to downtown during Arts in the Alley, the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce proposed a parade. This processional, which included the Grove City High School Marching Band, a band float, and a vehicle for Mr. and Mrs. Don Fedde, president of the Tournament of Roses, was a solution to both facilitate the event and celebrate the city's accomplishments. The parade, which began in the Hadler Shopping Center parking lot, turned out to be a surprising success, with Broadway lined with spectators from Southwest Boulevard to downtown.

After the parade's successful debut, Chamber members Gary Sigrist, Greg Skinner, and Tom Shrum discussed making the parade a permanent fixture to kick off Arts in the Alley. Although initially met with resistance from some members of the Grove City Arts Council, who felt that a parade might not align with the art show's focus, the concept was ultimately embraced as a unique art form in itself.

The first parade, aptly themed "A Community Affair," took place on Beulah Park property and moved east on Southwest Boulevard to Broadway. Notable early participants included the Girl Scout Council, Zachary’s Restaurant, Roxainne’s Flowers and Gifts, and a horse-drawn unit from Heartland Bank.