CHARLESTON, W.Va.— For the first time in almost 16 years, the inauguration parade is making a comeback as Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey is set to take office on January 13.
The last parade took place on January 19, 2009, when former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin was inaugurated the second time.
A member of Morrisey’s Transition Team, Conrad Lucas, was on Talkline with T.J. Meadows and Dave Wilson Friday morning, and he says that from their first conversation with the state’s Department of Arts, Culture and History, they knew they wanted to plan something big.
“What can we do, how can we make this the biggest, most exciting inaugural and we figured well that’s to include basically all elements, of anything that has happened, and that includes a massive parade that will bring lots of folks to Charleston,” Lucas said.
He says that the parade will be a celebration for the mountain state.
“A huge celebration of the entire state, so bands are participating from all over,” Lucas said.
Among those bands participating will be Marshall’s band, WVU’s and 20 bands from high schools around the state.
Lucas says that Morrisey wants a lot of people to participate because that’s what he’s wanted since he was elected in November.
“You know when Patrick first announced the prosperity group, which is the transition team immediately after his election, he wanted to solicit ideas from all of West Virginians for his administration,” he said. “He wants participation from everybody, everyone who wants to be involved at all levels and the parade is just another example of that.”
The parade will take place in downtown Charlestown on Kanawha Boulevard, starting at Morris Street and ending at California Avenue, at 1:30 p.m. on January 13th.