Hanska pride shows in parade

By RON LARSEN, Journal Staff Writer
HANSKA — Casual clothes and something to sit on were the order of the day in Hanska Sunday as people started lining Broadway, the town’s main drag, to watch the annual Syttende Mai celebration’s parade.

They weren’t disappointed.

This year’s parade featured about 80 entries which provided about 40 minutes of show time.

Hanska’s community fire department was up-front in the parade with its fire trucks and utility vehicles. Also leading the parade were the Hanska Syttende Mai float, followed closely by the local Sons of Norway float.

The Schell’s Hobo Band was down from New Ulm to take part in the event, as was the community’s “New Ulm City of Festivals” float. Then, there was a new kind of ATV-style vehicle which carried a sign exclaiming: “Gpa & Gma’s new toy.”

Then, there was the passel of motorcyclists, some of whom “gunned” their machines as they passed by, apparently to add emphasis to their request to “Start Seeing Motorcycles.”

A couple of vehicles supporting political candidates and Miss Godahl, Chelsea Schmellin, were in the parade, and even the U.S. Post Office had an entry.

However, the “queen” of the parade had to be 90-year-old Lois Ahlness of Hanska. She rode in an open convertible, with a sign proclaiming her achievement of reaching 90 on April 19.

Two of her four daughters, Suzanne Stoesz of Hanska and Betty Schnobrich of Hutchinson, rode in the convertible with their mother. The other two daughters, Kaydelle Gilbertson of Albert Lea and Shirley Anderson of Shakopee were not able to take part. Their father, Kenelm Ahlness, died in 1998.

However, the parade wasn’t the only thing happening on the last day of Hanska’s festival.

In addition to the arts and crafts booths in the park, there was entertainment through the afternoon in the entertainment tent on the grounds.

The Ken and Ken Show, featuring great music basted with lots of humor, led off the afternoon program in the tent. In real life, they are Ken Griebel of Searles and Ken Kamolz of New Ulm.

Following them were the Schell’s Hobo Band and the Concord Singers, both of New Ulm. And, Hanska’s 24th Annual Syttende Mai show, “Jukebox Jamboree,” completed a successful four-day performance run with a final show at 7 p.m. All in all, quite a musical menu for Hanska’s annual celebration.

Ron Larsen can be reached at rlarsen@nujournal.com'>rlarsen@nujournal.com