Downtown Chanute will get a dose of old-fashioned rural holiday cheer Saturday as the community kicks off the festive season.
A parade at 11 a.m. will open the day’s events, followed by an evening country music concert featuring both local and national artists at the Central Park pavilion. Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple, with music beginning at 6 p.m. The festivities will be filmed for the Best of America by Horseback television show on the RFD-TV network.
RFD-TV describes itself as “the world’s leading provider of multimedia content dedicated to the rural and western lifestyle with a mission of reconnecting city with country.”
Chanute native Del Shields has hosted and produced Best of America by Horseback since 2000. Wanting to showcase his hometown on the show, he selected a sentimental choice for parade grand marshal: his mother, Bernice Shields, a lifelong Chanute resident.
“My mother went with me for my very first filming down in Texas,” he said. “So I thought it would be great to have her represent.”
Shields began his career locally as a farrier and country singer. While performing a private show in Virginia, he was invited to audition for the television program.
“And it all worked out to where I have been the featured cowboy singer and host of the show since,” he said.
Though the parade was originally planned as a largely equestrian event, Shields said several community groups reached out to participate. A local car club, along with the Chanute High School and Chanute Middle School bands, will join the lineup in addition to the horses.
Shields said he is grateful for the community’s support. “I wanted to say thank you to the community for all the support,” he said.
