Lili Bernard, 7, from Chittenango, dressed as Glinda to watch the parade during Sartuday's Oz-Stravaganza. Photo by Brian McDowellCasey Cullen, a senior, performs with the Chittenango High School Dixieland Band during the Oz-Stravaganza parade on Saturday, June 6, 2015. The annual weekend event honors the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, author of “The Wizard of Oz.” Photo by Brian McDowell
One-year-old Chittenango resident Lydia Zagraniczny may have been the youngest Dorothy in the parade at Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza. Photo By Brian McDowellMatt Heffernan brought his daughter, 3-year-old Elodie, from Canastota to watch Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza parade. Photo by Brian McDowellLili Bernard, 7, from Chittenango, dressed as Glinda to watch the parade during Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza. Photo by Brian McDowell
As a teenager, Myrna Clifton was scheduled to appear in MGM’s Wizard of Oz, as were her parents. The girl’s emergency appendectomy sidelined the family trip to Culver City, California; by the time they were ready to travel, the film was too far into production for them to be cast. Several years later, however (and still in her native Texas), Myrna caught the appreciative eye–and heart–of movie “Munchkin soldier,” Clarence Swensen. Their subsequent love affair resulted in a 63-year marriage, three daughters, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. Since Clarence’s passing in 2009, Myrna (right in photo during Saturday’s parade) has continued to appear at nationwide Oz festivals, where the Swensens were much-admired, much-loved regulars for two decades. [Information from Oz-Stravaganza] Photo by Brian McDowell
Christine Worfel (right) pulls her daughters, 8-year-old Kaleigh (left) and 6-year-old Kendall during Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza parade in Chittenango. The Worfels live in Chittenango. Photo by Brian McDowellMarilyn Hordies, 87, dressed up as the wicked witch to participate in Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza parade. Marilyn is a resident of The Grand Rehabilitation & Nursing facility in Chittenango. Photo by Brian McDowellZayonna Ayer, 3, from Camden, watches the parade during Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza in Chittenango. Photo by Brian McDowellGregory Maguire, who wore the novel “Wicked,” waves to the crowd from the Oneida Nation float during Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza parade in Chittenango. Photo by Brian McDowell
3-year-old Izzy King, from New Hartford, watches the parade dressed as Dorothy. She was sitting with her grandparents, Tony and Ann King, during Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza parade in Chittenango. Photo by Brian McDowell
The Canastota Town Band performs during Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza parade in Chittenango. Photo by Brian McDowell
Ava Steensma, 7, traveled from Sidney NY, to watch the parade with her mother, Natalie (not pictured) and her uncle, Justin Steensma (back). during Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza parade in Chittenango. Photo by Brian McDowell
Kelsey Baughan (left), 6, came from her North Syracuse home dressed as Glinda to watch Saturday’s Oz-Stravaganza parade in Chittenango. She sat with her mother, Kristen Baughan; and her younger sister, Keri, who is 14 months old. Photo by Brian McDowellThis year’s grand marshall for the parade was Ken Page, who played the cowardly lion in the original Broadway productions of “The Wiz” and “The Wizard of OZ”. Page has had a long career on stage and screen. Photo by Brian McDowell
Sheila Lamb from Warren, Ohio may have been the farthest-traveled Glinda at this year’s Oz-Stravaganza in Chittenango. Photo by Brian McDowell
![As a teenager, Myrna Clifton was scheduled to appear in MGM’s Wizard of Oz, as were her parents. The girl’s emergency appendectomy sidelined the family trip to Culver City, California; by the time they were ready to travel, the film was too far into production for them to be cast. Several years later, however (and still in her native Texas), Myrna caught the appreciative eye–and heart–of movie “Munchkin soldier,” Clarence Swensen. Their subsequent love affair resulted in a 63-year marriage, three daughters, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. Since Clarence’s passing in 2009, Myrna (right in photo during Saturday's parade) has continued to appear at nationwide Oz festivals, where the Swensens were much-admired, much-loved regulars for two decades. [Information from Oz-Stravaganza] Photo by Brian McDowell](https://i0.wp.com/madisoncountycourier.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/DSC_0034-300x231.jpg?resize=300%2C231)
Lili Bernard, 7, from Chittenango, dressed as Glinda to watch the parade during Sartuday's Oz-Stravaganza. Photo by Brian McDowell 