Much credit for the success of the first parades must be attributed to Dolly and Marvin Thomson of Thompson Floats of Williamsport, Ohio. The couple operated a commercial float building company that supplied the vast number of floats for parades throughout the Midwest. The Thompsons became big supporters for the Grove City event which, at one point, the parade was considered one of the largest parades in Ohio with as many as 32 commercial and privately built float entries. Every Thompson float was in the parade.

The Girl Scout Council was one of the first organization to register with a float entry. Sharon Downs, owner of Zachary’s Restaurant, and Greg Skinner of Roxainne’s Flowers and Gifts, were the first with commercial float entries.

Larry’s Trucking, the local trash collection provider at the time, was the last entry in the Arts in the Alley Parade. Volunteers with black bags walked the parade route to collect trash. Spectators also picked up litter adding items to the trash bags. Pictured is the SWACO float.

In 1991, as horses became a regular addition to Arts in the Alley Parade, it became necessary to deploy a special and critical team called the “Pooper Scoopers”. Those volunteers went about their duties without fan fair but garnered considerable applause from spectators when they showed up with their barrel, shovel and push broom. Band members and walkers appreciated the efforts. Tiny McComb, president of the Heartland Bank, was the first horse drawn unit to participate.

Grove City’s most successful and longest running event and parade is Arts in the Alley, an event held in September each year sponsored by the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce. Arts in the Alley has grown to become a stand-alone event which has enjoyed healthy growth since its origin in 1980. The first Grove City Community Parade was held in 1990. At first, there was considerable opposition to the parade because there was a feeling it was inappropriate for a juried art show. That feeling evaporated when the parade was promoted as a living art creation. The parade eventually became known as the Arts in the Alley Parade. Parades have been held every year except in 2001 when it was cancelled following the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.