By Amy Joles (Contact / Staff Bio)
September 30, 2009 - 02:21 p.m. EST

CARO — Not one person, but an entire group will be honored as the Grand Marshals of the Tuscola County Pumpkin Festival this weekend.

Festival coordinators selected the Caro Department of Public Works for the 2009 title. In recognition of the DPW, several employees will ride in the 29th annual Tuscola County Pumpkin Festival parade on Sunday.

“The guys are excited to be recognized,” said Charlie Sundblad, Caro’s Superintendent of Public Works. “We are not in it to be recognized, but it’s very nice of them to do this.”

Prior to the festival, the 10-man DPW crew chips in by setting up for several major Pumpkin Fest events. They set up the pie stands, put up barricades for the car show and deliver items for the children’s pumpkin display and VG’s Biathlon.

“When the festival is all done, we have two or three guys that come and in and go clean up around the parade area and food court,” said Sundblad.

Sundblad has been the supervisor at the DPW for about 11 years now. During that time, he has worked with numerous festival volunteers and watched the festival go from the downtown area to the fairgrounds and then back downtown again.

“Yes, I’m glad it’s back downtown,” he said. “I think it’s more community oriented and it’s big for the downtown. When it’s at the fairgrounds, true, there is a lot more room, but it’s not visible.”

Sundblad said he and his team are happy to be a part of bringing the festival excitement back downtown and also happy to be working with the Chamber and Pumpkin Fest Board. The group has already done some set-up for events and will complete most of their duties by the end of the work day on Friday.

Amy Joles is the editor of the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at joles@tcadvertiser.com.