Strike up the band! Bring on the floats. It's parade time in the West End.

Saturday, Sept. 7 is the big Chestnuthill Township 250th anniversary celebration, and it begins at 10 a.m. with a parade.You may park on the lots of the West End Fairgrounds. The parade will circle the fairgrounds on County Park Road to Fairgrounds Road and follow the outskirts of the fairgrounds.After the parade, there will be a whole day's worth of music, food and fun.There will be a proclamation read at noon.Music will be provided by the Riverside Rhythm Swing Band on the main stage at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. The Hawks will perform on the band shell at 2 p.m.Freedom Gymnastics will demonstrate their acrobatic skills at 3, 3:30 and 4 p.m.Old fashioned games and contests like a watermelon eating contest and a tug-of-war will be going on from 1-5 p.m.There will be displays and vendors and a chance to purchase commemorative merchandise and the new book, "Monroe County's West End: A Quarter Millennium 1763-2013" by Norman Burger, published by the 250th Anniversary Committee.There is no admission fee. Celebrated will be the history of Chestnuthill Township, from which evolved Ross, Polk and Eldred townships.