The 77th Annual Pasco County Fair is under way. The fair, held at the Pasco County Fairgrounds off State Road 52 in Dade City, kicked off with a traditional parade on Monday morning.

The parade’s chairperson, Jeanie Germain, sat at a table on a flatbed trailer along with judges Nicole Newton, Kristen Morgan, Chris Cosella and Julie Cotton. Greg First served as an emcee as the parade’s entrants passed by the Historic Dade City Courthouse.

“It’s a good tradition,” Germain said. “It’s a good way to get the community involved.” Having marched in the parade as a band member, Germain, a 1972 Zephyrhills High graduate, recalled how the parade was much longer. Back then, they marched through downtown and ended up at the fairgrounds.

“That’s where it ended,” she said. “It was a longer parade.” Plus, there have been years where there were much more than the 23 entrants that took part in this year’s parade.

“We’d like to see more businesses, youth groups and bands (in the parade),” Germain said.

With the fair being a family event, Germain noted how the parade is too. Her daughter, Kristen Eady back then, rode in the parade as Miss Pasco in 2001. Germain and her daughter were joined at the parade by granddaughter Charlee Marie Morgan.

“It means a lot to me,” Germain said of the family involvement.

First relishes his role as emcee of the local parades.

“As long as I can still do it, I look forward to it,” he said. “As long as they keep asking, I’ll keep coming.”

Like Germain, First has a connection between Dade City and Zephyrhills. While he is from Zephyrhills his wife Jenny — they have been married for 33 years — is from Dade City.

As for the prize winners of the parade, cash was awarded to the following entrants: Best Overall/Best Civic — Progressive 4-H Club; Best Marching — Pasco Middle School Band; Best Commercial/Best Theme – Soriano Insurance.

The fair actually began with the championship rodeo last Friday and Saturday. The runs through this coming Sunday, Feb. 25. While the midway rides, along with plenty of fair food venders, primarily serve as the centerpieces for the annual event, there are plenty of other activities planned daily.