By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Ridge and Valley returns to Seneca
Placeholder Image

Everyone loves a parade and not every parade can offer you an impressive line of tractors and farm pride, so keep it in mind when you decide how and where you’re going to spend Saturday, July 13—it’s time for the Ridge and Valley Rally in Seneca!

Events kick off early with a 5K/10K walk-run at 7:30 a.m. Registration goes on until a half-hour before the event. Entry is only $10 per person and $5 for children 14 and under. The race starts and ends between the Seneca School softball and baseball fields on Taylor Ridge Road.

“We normally have between 90 and 100 people participating, but it can vary,” said event organizer Myrna Stevenson, citing weather as an important factor in turnout.

At 11 a.m. the parade will head out from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church going up Highway 27 to Taylor Ridge Road next to the school. This year’s theme is ‘Celebrating Community.’

The Seneca Community Club will award $50 to the favorite charity, local non-profit, or school-based organization of choice on behalf of the winning float.

The Shriner's Courthouse Jesters are planning to make an appearance, this year. Event coordinator Dwana Dunning said there is still time to enter a float.

This year’s King and Queen of the ridge and Valley are Harold and Barbara Schroeder. The Seneca Heights couple moved here in 1996 and has been active in the community since.

After the parade, you can grab a bite to eat at the Seneca Community Club’s Smoked Pork Chop Dinner or bid on a homemade pie at the pie auction. All the proceeds go toward the group’s charitable activities.

“Volunteers run the smoked pork chop dinner and pie auction, local people donate pies for us to auction,” Dunning said. “All proceeds are used for scholarships, donations to local community projects, and community volunteer groups.”

The Seneca Community Club, for whom dinner and pie auction are the sole fundraising events of the year, coordinates the ridge and Valley Rally.

After dinner, kick back and watch the antique tractor pull as competitors demonstrate their skill in getting the best performance from their machines. The pull begins at 1 p.m. next to the Town Hall.

“We start the tractor pull as early as we can,” Dunning said. “There are bleachers for spectators and volunteers to jump on the weight to slow the tractor down. It’s quite fun.”

A number of tournaments are planned for those looking for a bit of competition. Euchre and bean bag tournaments start at 4 p.m. The volleyball tournament will go on all day. And horseshoes begin after the parade.

There will be games for children following the parade and Little League games throughout the day.

“For the kids we have a ring toss, pencil draw, coloring contest, bouncy house and at 7 p.m. a musical chairs contest, all for prizes,” Dunning said.

For more information about Ridge and Valley Rally events, contact Dunning at 734-9440 or by email at cherokeed57@yahoo.com.

NOTE: The R&V Rally Parade was cancelled after this story went to print  due to traffic routing issues related to the recent mudslides that closed traffic on some sections of area roads.