Becky Carlson, of Manson, found that out Saturday morning as she was getting ready to watch the annual Manson Greater Crater Days parade.

She and her lawn chair migrated across the street into the shade.

“It’s so hot on that side.” Carlson said.

She needed to stay cool, and she had plans for when the parade was over.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Elisa Rubin, of Fort Dodge, helps demonstrate that face painting is for everyone Saturday during the Manson Greater Crater Days celebration. The artist is Heather Leith, of Manson.

“We’re getting some food, and we’re going to watch the kids play the games,” she said.

Carlson could, without batting an eye, answer the question of just exactly where the famous crater actually is.

“We’re on it,” she said. “It’s under us.”

Having a place to put the parade candy along the route is important too. While many opt for a simple plastic bag, Hudson Geerdes, 9, of Manson, was having none of that.

He opted for an orange Halloween candy bucket, apparently because, well, it was handy.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Siblings Parker Steffensmeier, 7, at left, Olivia Steffensmeier, 9, and Quinn Steffensmeier, 6, sort through their parade candy Saturday morning during the annual Manson Greater Crater Days celebration. The trio is from West Des Moines.

“I just grabbed the bucket,” Geerdes said.

After the parade, sisters Parker, 7, Olivia, 9, and Quinn Steffensmeier, 6, of West Des Moines, got together and looked through their candy bags.

Each had their favorites — Tootsie Rolls for Parker, Air Heads for Olivia and Smarties for Quinn.

They weren’t planning on trading to end up with more of their favorites.

“We eat it all anyway,” Olivia Steffensmeier said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Becky Carlson, of Manson, grabs her chair to head for the shady side of the street Saturday morning to watch the annual Manson Greater Crater Days parade.

For Elisa Rubin, of Fort Dodge, getting rainbows painted on her face by artist Heather Leith, of Manson, wasn’t just something for her children.

“I’m a very young lady,” she said. “I love art. It’s fun.”

Kim (Condon) Cancine, of New Port Richey, Florida, watched the parade with her dog Dottie. Her answer to the question of where the crater is was a little more zen like.

“Manson is the crater,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Hudson Geerdes, 9, of Manson, relaxes Saturday morning while waiting for the annual Manson Greater Crater Days parade to get started. Geerdes opted for a Halloween candy bucket instead of a bag to collect parade candy.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Lydia Geerdes, 4, of Manson, opted for a stylish pink bucket Saturday morning to collect parade candy in during the annual Manson Greater Crater Days parade.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Hannah Haupts, 6, of Fort Dodge, tries on her parade candy bag Saturday morning before the start of the annual Manson Greater Crater Days parade.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The annual Manson Greater Crater Days parade makes its way through town Saturday morning.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Kim (Condon) Cancine, of New Port Richey, Florida, holds her dog Dottie Saturday morning as they watch the annual Manson Greater Crater Days parade.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Pam Bleam, of Manson, reacts to the rather cool water in the dunk tank Saturday during the annual Manson Greater Crater Days celebration.