Essex Community Club is seeking nominations for 2026 Labor Day Grand Marshal

As of Friday, May 1, the Essex Community Club is seeking nominations for 2026 Labor Day Grand Marshal. Labor Day festivities in Essex will take place Friday, Sept. 4 through Monday, Sept. 7.  Festivities include the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, contests, games, live music, bull riding, demolition derby, street dances, parade, food trucks, vendors, fireworks, and much more.

 

The Grand Marshal tradition has taken place since the Essex Centennial in 1970. The Grand Marshal is featured in the Labor Day parade and is a special guest at events over the weekend celebration.

 

Past honorees include: 1970 Russell Englund; 1972 CJ & Anna Liljedahl; 1972 George H Johnson, Sr.; 1974 Delos Quist; 1975 Walter Freeman; 1976 Dale Black; 1977 Mrs. Oscar (Minnie) Olson; 1977 Grace Butler; 1978 Lillian Carson; 1979 Miss Rena Hanson; 1980 Curtis Hultman; 1981 Ray Hanson; 1982 Martin Johnson; 1983 LeRoy Sar; 1984 Olive Samuelson; 1985 Dale Dyke; 1986 Don & Erma Moore; 1987 Luther Goldberg; 1988 Glendon Nelson; 1989 Bill & Bernice Wenstrand; 1990 Margaret Welty Rose; 1991 Sam & Verona Bengston; 1992 Glenn Carlson; 1993 Alex Carlson; 1996 George “Jr.” Johnson; 1995 John R. Liljedahl; 1996 George Ross; 1997 Wayne Almquist; 1998 Lucille Carlson; 1999 Marion Lembke; 2000 Alice Lindburg; 2001 Russ Hilker; 2002 Bob Jackson; 2003 Alice Almquist; 2004 Bob Anderson; 2005 Bill Royer; 2006 Pauline Johnson; 2007 Wayne & Ruth Marie Johnson; 2007 Dick Glaspie; 2008 Dave & Donna Jauron; 2009 Jim & Eleanor Wenstrand; 2010 Allen Stuart; 2011 Norman Casteel, Elaine Lindburg, Fred & Coleen Samuelson, Marice Young; 2012 Stewart & Renae Harberts; 2013 Leland & Pat Tillman; 2014 Bob & Elaine Ohnmacht; 2015 Pete & Dana Wenstrand; 2016 Jeannine Liljedahl; 2017 Larry & Lorna Glasgo; 2018 Jim & Joyce Long; 2019 Sam & Beckie Jones; 2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19; 2021 Les & Carla Kirchert; 2022 Mary Ann Stuart; 2023 Dennis & Teresa Perry; 2024 Bill & Nancy York; and 2025, Doug & Mary Ohnmacht.

 

Nominations for 2026 Grand Marshal should be submitted by May 31st to Tess Nelson at P.O. Box 334, Essex, Iowa or director@essexiowa.com. Please include a paragraph about your nominee’s qualifications. Anyone can make a nomination for Labor Day Grand Marshal. In June, ECC members will vote on the nominations and select the Grand Marshals. The announcement of the 2026 Grand Marshal will be made in early July.

 

Please email Tess at director@essexiowa.com with any questions.