With luck, he said, the 2000 parade will be the largest ever. In addition to their usual fundraising efforts, organizers said they will hold bake sales and sell raffle tickets in order to pay for the event. Stepanchick said raising money and finding volunteers are the biggest challenges in organizing the event. With a committee of approximately 30 people, McDonald said, five are under 50. He stressed a need for younger Ashland residents to get involved.
People let tradition die.
In addition to raising public awareness, parade organizers said they are challenged by raising funds. Stepanchick said 80 percent of that will go toward hiring bands, such as the Mummers groups that have been the parade's trademark since the 1930s. Each year, said Stepanchick, bands charge more to play at the parade. At the same time, donations don't climb. Ashland's business district, according to Stepanchick, isn't as big as it once was.