Rosella Renkoski, 81, of Pioneer, got her wish on Saturday: A parade.

“It has been probably 50 years since I have been to this parade, because we raised eight children,” Renkoski said. “Then we had to take part in all of the fairs and the show cattle, then they played baseball. The children are all grown.”

On Saturday, Fairview hosted its annual Fairview Picnic, with a lawn tractor pull on Friday.

During the 10 a.m. parade Saturday, Renkoski stood out by the road, watching as fire trucks, politicians and others drove by throwing out candy to the eager spectators.

“I got some candy today: I reverted to childhood,” said Renkoski. “I am a diabetic, I can’t eat it. Oh, I can eat one piece a day. It will last me a couple of weeks.

“I thought the parade was OK, because we support the fire department and they have helped us with a fire. It is good to know that they are close.”

The only disappointment she had was she wanted to see more participation in the parade.

“I was for sure that we would have a lot more of our senior citizens showing their old cars,” noted Renkoski.

But that is not the only reason Renkoski came to Fairview: She is a member of the Fairview Senior Citizens.

“We have a booth inside the Hammons Community Center,” said Renkoski. “We are selling cupcakes and flowers.”

Parked on one side of the city park’s street were various classic cars, including a 1931 Ford coupe.

“I found it on the Internet and bought it,” said Mike Stuart of Joplin, the car’s owner. “I have had it for two and a half years. I like that body style and like the paint job on it. I had to finish it up.”

When he was growing up, Stuart never had a 31 Ford Coupe, but loved them.

“I never had a ‘31 in my life, until this one,” commented Stuart. “Always wanted one, and retired about three years ago and we bought one.”

It took two and a half years for him to finish up the car. Now he takes it to car shows and get-togethers.

“It has never been on a trailer,” said Stuart. “It has always been driven. We drive itmostly in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.”

Stuart encourages others to take up the hobby of restoring vehicles, including his family. And he is in the process of restoring and wanting to get another car.

“We have a 1935 five window coupe that we are working on right now,” said Stuart. “In the process of trying to buy a ‘50 Mercury soft top.”

The rest of the day included music, some booths and food.