At Least Two Really Good Reasons to Watch the Miss America Parade

BY PAM LOBLEY

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

NOW THAT'S FUNNY

The Miss America parade, coming up this September in Atlantic City, will be televised for the first time in its history.? Should you decide to tune in, you will notice that all the women have a really great pair.? Of shoes.

As reported by the Associated Press, the contestants? shoes have traditionally been decorated in a spirit of campy fun.?? Miss Maine?s might have lobsters on them; Miss Ohio might celebrate her state?s reputation as the birthplace of aviation by sporting an airplane on her shoes.? In Atlantic City, the contestants will ride in convertible cars and will be free to dangle their shoes for the crowd?s pleasure.

Maybe Miss New Jersey?s shoes will wear a fleece jacket like Chris Christie?s.

The parade is gearing up for its first television appearance, with 22 marching bands and expensive floats.? In fact, the upscaling of the floats has caused some animosity.? Floats used to cost around $200 and could be put together by local businesses.? The parade was a celebration and a home-grown event, and had local participants like Chestnut Neck Boat Yard in Port Republic and Century 21 Frick Realtors in Galloway Township.? As The Press of Atlantic City reports, they are priced out of the parade.? Just to enter a float costs $2,000, ten times what it once did.

Times are flashier, and what used to be good, clean fun is not deemed worthy of TV.? The parade had been moved to Las Vegas for the past several years, and though it is returning to Atlantic City, perhaps it?s promoters feel they still need to go for the glitz.? The floats will be elaborate, tailored to partnering organizations and corporations.? In other words, we can look forward to the Staples ?Yes!? She?s Got That!? float.

The parade falls on Yom Kippur, a sacred holiday in the Jewish religion, so many Jewish people will not be attending.? The parade organizers say they regret the conflict, but felt they had no choice but to proceed.? They did move the actual competition from Saturday night to Sunday, when Yom Kippur will be over.

The parade will air on ABC on September 15.? The producer is John Best, who puts on eight parades nationally throughout the year.? He is planning on keeping some of the local charm, like including Girl Scout Troops and Red Cross chapters.? Sounds like he?s putting his Best foot forward.

Pam Lobley writes the ?Now That?s Funny? column.? Check out her blog:? Better Living Through Chaos! Follow her on twitter @plobley.

Source: http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/at-least-two-really-good-reasons-to-watch-the-miss-america-parade

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