CINCINNATI -- The table is set, the turkey is in the oven and the football games haven’t started yet. So what happens next? Well, for the past 26 years, residents of Price Hill and surrounding areas make their way to Glenway Avenue for the annual Price Hill Thanksgiving Day Parade.
This year’s grand marshal is Alice Magoto, also known as Miss Ohio 2016. She’s a hometown girl and a proud graduate of Seton High School, class of 2016.
“I’m so honored to be the grand marshal of this parade because I have a real connection with Price Hill,” Magoto said.
“So many of my friends live there and because of my time at Seton, I feel like I got to know this close-knit group.”
Magoto, from Hyde Park, transferred to Seton her junior year. She said prior to enrolling, she was an insecure teen and was uncomfortable being herself.
But all that changed when I got to Seton, she said.
“It was so welcoming and I was able to grow into the confident person I am today. I never would have been chosen to be the grand marshal, or Miss Ohio, without them.”
She will reign as Miss Ohio until next June and in the meantime she hopes to spread a message to young girls who might be struggling with lack of confidence. In her early teens she was constantly comparing herself to women on social media.
“But when I was at Seton, I realized that I’m OK being me,” she said. “So now I go out and talk to middle and high school girls and tell them, as their peer, that they are ok too.”
According to Cindy Armstrong, parade organizer, the grand marshal is always someone the general public knows and they may or may not have a direct tie to Price Hill. Last year’s marshal was Rosie Red.
There's also always a king and queen of the parade.
“These people have usually demonstrated a long history of community involvement, exemplary leadership, financial and/or investment of time, therefore providing significant contributions to the betterment of Price Hill,” Armstrong said.
This year’s king and queen are Mimi Hart and her husband Brian Gerth, owners of Hart Pharmacy. The business has been a Price Hill staple since 1960.
In addition to the pharmacy, Hart says she is very active in the community. She is board member of Santa Maria Community Services and a founding member of Price Hill Will, an organization dedicated to the revitalization of the community.
Hart, who lives in East Price Hill, says she works to make her neighborhood vibrant and to protect its cultural diversity.
“We are very excited about the future of Price Hill and proud to be a part of all that goes on here,” she said.
Although Armstrong has been organizing the parade for about 20 years, she certainly does not do it alone. She credits the success to the committee of about six people and the hundreds of volunteers who join in on parade day.
There are eight floats scheduled this year, with local’s favorites being from Purcell Garden Club and Hart Pharmacy.
The Purcell Garden Club was represented with a float at last year’s parade. (Provided)
Mimi Hart says they try to come up with something different for their float every year. This year, riding as the king and queen, the couple will be accompanied by their grandsons, ages 7 and 3, who will be dressed as their royal knights.
“That should be interesting,” Hart said. “And we may have some minions, too.”
Armstrong says there is also a friendly competition between Seton High School and Mercy High School to build the best float. The parade also features an assortment of color guards, musical groups, antique cars, police and fire vehicles and of course, Santa Claus. She said thousands of people will line the two-mile route, as they do every year.
The parade winds up at the St. Lawrence Parish Center where the fun continues until noon. There will be a petting zoo, face painting, hot chocolate, cookies and music by St. Lawrence Eagles Wing Student Choir. Santa Claus will stick around for visits and photos.
“It’s just awesome how the parade and events bring everyone together to give thanks and just get together for a short time as a community to meet and greet friends/neighbors, to give thanks,” Armstrong said. “My favorite thing is seeing the same people year after year and the smiles of their faces, especially the little ones.”
IF YOU GO
The parade starts at 10 a.m. Thursday, Thanksgiving Day.
Route: Intersection of Ferguson and Glenway, to east on Glenway to Warsaw and finishing at St. Lawrence Parish Center, 3680 Warsaw Ave.
