In spite of her fall, in late May, the 89-year-old Brownsville resident was on hand Saturday as scheduled, waving from the back of an elegant white carriage drawn by Belgian draft horses from Chafin Farms.

A Central Linn school bus driver for 20 years, she earned the parade honor because "I got too old," she said with a chuckle. Then she pointed out with pride that her granddaughter, Alyssa Weger, 17, reigned over the festivities this weekend as the Pioneer Picnic Queen.

"It's the year of the Wegers," she said, smiling.

This year's festival, the oldest continuous one in the state, is also the year of the "Rockin' Pioneers," according to parade organizers.

Entrants played with the theme in a number of ways, from rocking chairs to rocking horses to pickup stereos blasting, "Rock Around the Clock."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chose a more literal interpretation, with members waving from a float bearing an amorphous mass and the sign, "Rock of Ages."

Three-year-old Sam Thompson of Lebanon, part of the "Rockin' Cousins" entry, put on an Elvis wig and a huge pair of sunglasses to ride through town on an Arabian named Jozee.

Marissa Glazier, 10, of Halsey, and her sisters Ana, 11, and Samantha, 9, rocked and rolled their way through the route on a pedal-powered buggy "drawn" by a toy horse. They won a blue ribbon in the "bikes" category.

"We feel good, 'cause yesterday we were in the kiddie parade and we didn't get a ribbon," Samantha said.

The Linn County Pioneer Picnic began as a way for area pioneer families to reunite every summer.

Festivities continue through today, with a Logger's Jamboree, family games and races, and other traditional picnic events.

Sunday's schedule

Ongoing - Youth Baseball Games, Baseball Diamonds

7 to 10 a.m. - Wagon Train Breakfast, Pavilion

10 a.m. - Church Service, Stage

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Flower Show, Log Cabin

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Miniature Horse Show, Horse Arena

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Horseshoe Tournament, Horseshoe Pits

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Quilt and Fiber Arts Show, Community Arts Building

12:30 p.m. - Penny Scramble, Family Game Area

1 p.m. - Family Games/ Races, Family Game Area

1 p.m. - Linn County Loggers' Jamboree, Logging Area

1 to 4 p.m. - Pioneer Picture Gallery Open, Picture Gallery

3 p.m. - Pick up flower entries, Log Cabin