Longest
Chicken Dance - Mandan Parade sets world record
MANDAN, ND, USA -- The Chicken Dance organized
during the Mandan Independence Day Parade and Street Festival
covered 24 city blocks and was 1.627 miles long -
setting the new world record for the Longest
Chicken Dance.
One of the stages in 2009 featured WKRP, a local
DJ service. When they played the Chicken Dance, people lined
up for over 2 blocks. Ron Kruckenberg of WKRP brought this
up parade organizors and the idea was born.
Implementation proved to be a challenge
as music had to be heard along the entire length as well as
informing the public. Traffic control was
also a challange as the busiest street in Mandan had to be
closed to host the event.
By 11:15 a.m., people lined the entire
route. In some areas, multiple lines were formed to accomodate
the overflow crowd. Radios along the route tuned to Cool 98.7
to listen to Dean Mastel and Bob Beck countdown.
At 11:30 a.m., Lawrence Welk's version
of the Chicken Dance played and many thousands of people could
be seen standing in a line dancing and clapping.
Nick Ressler of Mandan, one of the event
organizers, stated that the line was 1.627 miles long as measured
on Google maps.
There were over 130 groups participating
in the Mandan parade, and with so many people there to watch,
a world record have been set for the world's longest chicken
dance, which stretched for the length of the parade route.
The Longest
Chicken Dance in The World was an overwhelming success,
stated Marlo Anderson, Mandan Parade co-chairperson.
" Everyone was amazed at the
turnout. We had people who traveled from Washington, Missourri,
Kansas, Utah, Colorado and other states just to be involved
in the event."
" A core group of people worked an making
the event possible. Dennis Friesz, Lisa Smestad, Del Wetch,
Tara Wangler, Don Taghan, Ann Jenks, Alice Anderson and many
other volunteers were involved. Particiapnts donated non-parishable
items or cash to Ruth Meiers Hospitaility House."
