Bud and Marty Johnson are no strangers to the Hardwick Jubilee Days parade.
For more than a few decades the couple’s tractors, trucks or horseless carriage have traveled the two-block route with one or more Johnson family members on board.
At Saturday’s parade the Johnsons themselves will take center stage alongside their vehicles while serving as the event’s 2016 parade marshals.
“They have been great contributors to the Hardwick community,” said Joan Kindt.
Kind is a member of the Hardwick Community Club, which organizes the annual three-day celebration that starts Friday night and goes through Sunday morning.
Marty (whose real name is Martha) said she herself has never driven anything in the parade and this year’s event may be the first time she has been in the parade.
“I lined up the parade (entries) for years,” she said.
Bud (short for Bernard) and Marty Johnson have lived in Hardwick since 1976. The family owned and operated Hardwick Grain Co. until 2005.
The couple will also celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary during Jubilee Days.
Other than the Johnsons’ celebration, this year’s community event will include many of the same events as in past years.
“We are keeping it pretty low key this year as we prepare for next year’s quasquicentennial,” she said.
Hardwick’s 125th birthday will include an all-school reunion plus events specifically for the town’s milestone.
This year’s community meal from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday will help raise funds for this as well as next year’s larger event.
The parade follows at 7 p.m. Saturday after which the pedal pull for kids ages 4-11 will begin.
A street dance with music provided by “Driven” is scheduled for 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Softball kicks off Jubilee Days Friday night at 8 p.m. with a Hardwick Fast Pitch game. The co-ed softball tournament takes place all day Saturday.
Jubilee Days concludes Sunday with a 10:30 a.m. outdoor community worship service in the Zion Lutheran Church parking lot.
A freewill lunch will follow served by the Zion Youth Group.