parades, fire trucks, and squirt guns

[spokewench]

We have a GREAT parade here in Flagstaff, but then we are not a very large town!

I wish I had pictures of it for those who don't get to go to parades anymore!

Spoke

[Ninabike]

On the 4th of July at Catalina Inland (Two Harbors) they always have a boat (dinghy) parade and everyone decorates their dinghy's and prade around. Then they have "events" such as the blindfolded dinghy paddle race where they use the big river rafting inflatables and all the rowers are blindfloded except the coxwain who shouts out to the rowers where to go. Inevitably, when they shout "left' or "right" the rowers never know whether it means turn to the left or right, or the rowers on the left or right and it's a big free-for-all. Anyway, there are always a few people in the spectator dinghys who squirt water cannons on the rowers, who in turn, slap the water with their paddles so the spectator fleet gets wet. One year I had a bad fall and very bruised ribs and sternum (fall occurred when I fell through an open boat hatch after what I suspect were a few too many "Buffalo Milks" - the local drink). I was so bruised I could hardly move and was lying in our dinghy watching the festivities. I got completely soaked by the water cannons and water-slapping rowers and couldn't do anytjing but just "take it". As I recall, laughing hurt a lot too - more than any fall I have had on a bike.

[bmccasland]

Now that you mention it, it occured to me that New Orleans doesn't have parades for the 4th of July.

BUT we do have Carnival Season parades - that ends with Mardi Gras. That doesn't quite get parading out of everyone's system, because we also have St. Patrick's Day parades.

So no Christmas or July 4 parades, but Mardi Gras does make up for it. And where else to you go to parades and get stuff? Poor kids that grew up here get real confused when they go to parades elsewhere. No "throws".

Mardi Gras beads anyone???

[Mr. Bloom]

I thought parades were something they did in New York on holidays...I vaguely recall my little league team marching in one in 1968!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Our little village in upstate rural NY has BIG parades all the time. Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th.....even Santa comes through Main street waving from a firetruck with sirens in December several times! Caroling in the street too.

In the parades, lots of school marching bands, VFW, Fire Dept squads and trucks, horses and wagons, honor guards, cheerleaders, the whole 9 yards. No big expensive floats though- it's a small town. It's always sort of a trip back in time. I rode the parade once on my horse when I was 13 too.

[oxysback]

I posted about our neighboring town's parade in the July 4th rides thread. I thought about sharing pictures, but I was in a hurry and didn't have time to resize them.

I figured I'd share them now for those of you that don't have hometown parades to go to. I think it really is a slice of Americana.

This particular parade is heavy on the horses...and I love horses, so that's what most of the pictures are of.

Here's the beginning of the parade...




Then we're on to the horses. Usually the first entries are the colorguard, sherriff's posse, and all the rodeo queens and their courts from the surrounding areas. I noticed an unusually high amount of palomino's this year, and they were beautiful!










Here's the adult band playing a march...





I thought this horse with overalls was cute...





This was a spectacular looking paint! I wish I had gotten the whole horse.





Vaulting anyone? Good thing the horse was 'bomb proof'!





A nice looking appaloosa mare and her foal...





A caballero and his friesian...





There were also antique tractors and restored cars...







A girl and her unicorn...





"When I grow up I want to be a rodeo queen's horse!"





The littlest bronc riders...





That's all, folks. Hope you enjoyed it!

[Zen]

I sure did, thanks!

I like how the gentlemen all removed their hats when the flag went by And all the horses were so beautiful.

What a great parade.