Ryan Hanson, 16, of Mason, and Nate Graham, 18, of West Chester, work on Grace Baptist Church's float. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        MASON — The youth of Grace Baptist Church love a parade.

        Every year, the teens design and produce an eye-catching float for the Mason Heritage Festival. This year's undertaking has required hundreds of hours of brainstorming, construction and tissue-stuffing.

        “The festival theme is "In my own back yard,”' said Rod Zeigler, youth pastor at Grace Baptist.

        “Our float is called "Remembering begins in our own back yard.' It's a replica of Mason's future veterans memorial.”

IF YOU GO

What: Mason Heritage Festival    When: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday    Where: U.S. 42, downtown Mason    Highlights: Parade, 10 a.m.; Kidzone and pony rides, noon to 6 p.m.; pet show, 1:45 p.m.; Mason Community Band, 1 p.m.; Stagger Lee, 5:15 p.m.; Keith Urban, 7 p.m.    Parking: Mason Intermediate School, Mason-Montgomery Road at Tylersville Road; free shuttle.    Information: 336-0388

        Working from architectural drawings for the monument, the youths used lumber, chicken wire, plastic foam and an endless supply of pompons to portray the memorial's nine marble monoliths, waterfall and perpetual flame. The result will roll through downtown Mason on Saturday.

        The parade is one of many family-oriented activities planned, said festival organizer Vickie Larcomb.

        “The Mason Heritage Festival will have enough activities for a family to stay for the whole day,” she said, noting interactive children's games, a Civil War re-enactment and a high school-age battle of the bands.

        “In addition, we have really upped the ante on our entertainment this year, to attract even more people,” she said. Following a performance by local favorite Stagger Lee, singer Keith Urban will take the stage.
       

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