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Woodside’s annual May Day celebration is less than a month away and this year marks the 104th year of the community tradition. Local Woodside residents can look forward to the event on May 2, honoring the year’s kindercourt and the grand and deputy marshals.
As one of the oldest town traditions, the May Day celebrations brings together hundreds of locals to watch the parade on Woodside Road as students, neighbors, local leaders and organizations march down the town’s main artery.
The kindercourt is a group of kindergarten students from Woodside Elementary School who are randomly selected to serve as May Day royalty for the parade.
Every year, the ceremony recognizes three local leaders who have dedicated their time and energy to serving the community. This year, Woodside will honor Richard Mainz as grand marshal and Linette Grifith and Brian Myrtetus as deputy marshals.
Grand Marshal Richard Mainz grew up attending the May Day Parade as a child and is an alumnus of Woodside Elementary and Woodside High School. Now living in town with his family in the Woodside Glens, he’s volunteered on the Woodside Recreation Committee for over 28 years and has helped expand youth sports and community programs for the town.
His leadership has brought indoor and outdoor soccer, softball leagues, volleyball and family camping at Huddart and Memorial Parks, movie nights and more.
He lives by this philosophy: “If something doesn’t exist, step up and help build it. Don’t sit back and wish it were so or complain about it, just do it.”
Linette Griffith will be recognized at the parade for 12 years of teaching second grade at Woodside Elementary School, part of her 40-year career in education. Growing up in rural Minnesota, she sees the uniqueness of Woodside’s close-knit community and family feel.
After years of teaching, many of her former students and families have become part of her extended circle.
In the classroom, Griffith’s teaching focuses on building confidence, especially in math. She believes that growth in children stems from feeling safe enough to take risks.
“All students are mathematical,” she said. “They just need the experiences to build that confidence.” Her classroom emphasizes collaboration, resilience, and encouraging students to learn from one another.
Bryan Myrtetus is a second grade teacher at Woodside Elementary School and has been teaching in its classrooms for more than 20 years. He’s known for his lessons in the garden, teaching students about planting, harvesting and observing. As a teacher, he’s dedicated to helping children discover their interests, grow confident, independent and maintain their curiosity.
Myrtetus attributes the success of the students to the many parent volunteers, teachers and families that have contributed their time to shaping the environment of the school.
As deputy marshal, Myrtetus will be spotted along with Griffith and Mainz as they celebrate the annual town tradition, or as Myrtetus calls it “Mardi Gras for kids.”
May Day details
May Day festivities will begin at 7:30 a.m. when Fun Run participants check in at the Woodside Library. Highway 82 between Cañada Road and Kings Mountain Road will close at 8 a.m. and the Fun Run will begin at 8:30 a.m.
The May Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Woodside Road followed by the presentation of awards and the maypole dance at the amphitheater at 11 a.m. The carnival at Woodside Elementary will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. where a barbecue lunch can be enjoyed starting at noon.
The carnival will feature classic games, cotton candy, face painting, an inflatable obstacle course and dunk tank. Wristbands for full access to carnival games are $25.
The barbecue will be prepared by award-winning pitmaster and Woodside parent Jason Appelbaum. The menu includes brisket, pulled pork sandwiches, veggie and hot dog options and Buck’s beet and apple salad. Proceeds from the barbecue will support the seventh grade operetta fund.
Carnival wristbands and barbecue meal tickets can be purchased ahead of time on woodside-elementary-pta.square.site.
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