Posted By: Candice Dixon
Every year around this time, the same question pops into my head: why are we still doing the May Day Parade in East Arcadia the exact same way every single year? Don’t get me wrong — I’m not against celebrating our community or honoring traditions. Small towns need events that bring people together. But at some point we have to be honest with ourselves and admit that the East Arcadia May Day Parade has become tired, predictable, and honestly a little disconnected from what our community actually needs today.
East Arcadia is a very small place. We’re talking about only a few hundred people living here. Yet every year the same parade rolls down the same route with the same floats, the same setup, and the same routine. It feels like we are repeating a script that nobody has updated in decades. Tradition can be a beautiful thing, but when something stops evolving and stops exciting the people it’s supposed to bring together, then maybe it’s time to rethink it.
What really gets me is that nobody seems to ask the community what we actually want. There’s never a conversation about new ideas, new activities, or ways to make the event feel fresh. Instead, we’re expected to show up, clap for the same types of floats, and act like this is still the highlight of the year. Meanwhile, a lot of people in the community quietly feel like the event has run its course in its current form.
Another thing that deserves attention is the question of where the money is going. Events like this cost money. Whether it’s permits, decorations, materials, or organizing committees, someone is funding it. That money is coming from somewhere — donations, fundraising, sponsorships, or possibly even local resources. If the community is supporting it financially, then the community deserves transparency about how those funds are being used.
Are the funds helping improve East Arcadia in any meaningful way? Are they supporting youth programs, community improvements, or local projects that benefit everyone? Or are we simply recycling the same event year after year without asking whether those resources could be used more creatively or effectively? Imagine if we took that same energy and used it to create something new. Maybe a community festival with local vendors and small businesses. Maybe a youth talent showcase. Maybe a community improvement day where people come together to fix up public spaces, plant trees, or build something meaningful for future generations. Those kinds of events could still bring people together, but they would also feel purposeful and exciting.
The truth is that communities grow when they are willing to adapt. Holding onto traditions without ever updating them can slowly turn something special into something people tolerate rather than look forward to. And that’s exactly how the May Day Parade in East Arcadia feels right now — tolerated rather than celebrated.
Again, I’m not attacking the idea of community traditions. I actually believe they are important. But traditions should evolve with the people they serve. If the same event feels stale to a large portion of the community, then maybe it’s time to start asking questions and opening the door to new ideas. East Arcadia deserves events that reflect the creativity, energy, and potential of the people who live here today — not just a copy of what was done decades ago. A parade can still be part of that, but it shouldn’t be the only thing we do or the only way we celebrate our town.
So maybe the real question isn’t “Why have a May Day Parade?” Maybe the better question is why can’t we do something different for once? Why can’t we invite new ideas, new leadership, and new energy into how our community celebrates itself? If we really care about East Arcadia, then it’s time to stop repeating the same old routine and start imagining something better.
