Changes to Bell Tower Parade Route

Bell Tower Festival announces Parade Improvements

Planning is well underway for the 43^rd annual Bell Tower Festival, which will be held on June 8, 9 & 10, 2023, in Jefferson. An ad hoc parade coordination committee, pictured above, met this fall for safety and logistic improvement. The Rotary Club of Jefferson annually sponsors the BTF Parade.

In 2023, the parade route end will be modified. Parade entries will sign in as usual on Ram Drive. Staging will continue to take place at the (new) Middle School on Ram Drive and adjacent ball field parking lots. The parade will proceed north on Chestnut to Lincoln Way. At that intersection, the parade will now turn east or right for one block. It will officially end at the Greene County Historical Museum on the corner of Lincoln Way and South Locust Street.

Safety for parade viewers and participants is the number one priority. To that end, a couple of extra city blocks will be cordoned off for better viewing. Also, the adjusted route will allow for larger parade entries of our valued local industries. Third, the parade will not interfere with the beverage and seating area now located on Lincoln Way.

Also, to alleviate congestion at the parade staging area, an enhanced shuttle loading and parking scheme is being worked on. Additional bleacher seating for parade viewing is in the works. Further information on both will be shared later.

For more information on the 2023 Bell Tower Festival, go to:  BellTowerFestival.com, or call the Jefferson Matters office at the Welcome Center in Thomas Jefferson Gardens at 515.386.2155.

For specific BTF class reunions clearinghouse and information, please contact Annie Ostendorf at 515.370.1397 or ostee@netins.net.

Pictured above are, left to right, are Karen Lawton, School Foundation’s Reunion Rendezvous co-chair; Annie Ostendorf, class reunions coordinator; Matt Wetrich, Jefferson Matters Director; Philip Heisterkamp, BTF central committee leader; and Sam Harding, chairperson and member of the Rotary Club of Jefferson, the longtime sponsor of the parade.  Not shown are committee members Chief of Police Mark Clouse, BTF central committee member Chris Heisterkamp, and Rotarian Craig Hertel.