Mid-June in my town is the high point of the year…. Oh yazz, it’s Strawberry Festival time! And the high point of the entire festival is the parade; ten am, Saturday. Half the town marches…
… and the other half turns out to watch. If you’re smart, you’ll get there early and set up a lawn chair. Then you wait.
And just when you think that this year something really must have happened to hold up the parade, there they come, turning around the corner at the south end of Main Street. Heading up the procession are the Little Leaguers, all decked out in their team uniforms, complete with grass stained knees.
This year we had bagpipers. I actually parked next to that middle fellow in the back row. I complimented him on the beautiful colors in his tartan, but he merely grunted at me. I’m sure he didn’t mean to be rude… I’m thinking he must have been feeling a bit distracted as he apparently forgot his spats. How embarrassing! I suppose I’ll forgive him.
We’ve got cute little baton twirlers. Please tell me I’m not the only one feeling a twinge of envy towards that adorable little thing right there with her impossibly skinny little legs. I don’t think my legs were that thin when I was a newborn.
What’s a parade without a band, right? My personal fave is the trumpet player on the right, turned so he can play directly to the little children on the sidelines. I’m thinkin’ he must be someone’s Grampa.
The local lawn care business supplies a balloon… I’m telling you, that Macy’s parade ain’t got nuthin’ on us!
And I saved the best for last… the local small business alliance recruited a bunch of bike-riding-kids to add a little oomph to their float. See anyone familiar?
Anyone recognize that smooth dude on the flashy chopper bike (which was a gift from Daddy)? Yep, that’s my boy: the cool one. He said the best part of his day was when people called out, “Awesome bike!” and “Cool ride!” as he passed.
The second best part of the day was meeting up with Daddy and adoring sis for a little apres-event smoothie and cookie snack at the coffee shop.
I asked Noah about his facial expression in this shot and he said he was “trying not to look braggy about my bike.” I see.
It’s hard work being this cool. Apparently.
Oh, that was so much fun, sharing in your parade day! It reminds me so much of my little home town, and all of the parades I sat/walked/rode through when I was growing up…. *sigh* Ah, the memories… I'm so glad your children get a chance to make these memories too. There aren't too many 'small town' parades anymore.
Love it.
L. Rose
I love to watch the small town parades (I'm guessing yours is a small town). Seeing people you actually know marching, twirling, horseback-riding and bike riding is so much fun!
For some reason parades make me cry, in a happy way. Now I know why my mom and aunties carried scads of cotton hankies in their pocketbooks at all times!
Noah seems to get taller in each new picture that is posted! And yes, the bike is very cool.
Kind regards from Susan T.
Looks like fun!!
What fun! I love parades, and it has been fun to take my own kidlets to the parades and watch them watching it!
Oh wow! That parade has such a great hometown, retro feel to it! I wish there was something like that near us!
jenni… there really is nothing quite like small town american life, eh? ☺
thanks rose♥
susan t… yes we do live in a small town (although it is actually the county seat!) my house is only two short blocks west of main street where the parade took place. of course i had to transport noah and his bike allll the way across town (almost a whole mile!) to where the parade started, lol.
anna.. it was fun!
courtney… when my kids were tiny, they used to get so excited about going to the parade. well, they still do!
nancy… it is very homey and old fashioned. i doubt the parade line-up has changed much in the past 75 years or so, lol. we're so fortunate to have such niftiness so close at hand:-D
Having someone you know in a parade makes it so much more fun. I'm so glad Noah got the chance to be in it — what a neat idea to have kids on bikes! I have never seen that in a parade, but what could be more American and summery. We went all over creation on bikes when I was a kid, though my own kids didn't take to them as well. And that IS a very cool bike, and Noah is doing a great job in maintaining a non-braggy yet pleased attitude.
Ditz would love you forever. ♥ I hate parades & won't ever take her. Naturally she adores them. Noah is definitely cool.
Noah definitely has a cool bike! I know a certain 18-year-old son of mine who would love to check it out!
That same son would also say something like "I was trying not to look braggy about my bike!" Some boys just have it, don't they?
Ah, the small town parade! Ours is much bigger….but only because they add about 150 old farm machinery entries! Interesting, though.
That is one sweet ride, Noah. I appreciate your sensitivity to others that might think anyone with a bike like that would be braggy.
barbara… well, i know that seeing our boy in the parade was the highlight for us☺
ganeida… well, honestly i'm really not all that crazy about them in general meself;-)
susan… sounds like my boy and yours would be good friends!
lady dee… well, i think old farm machinery would be interesting. maybe not 150 of them thought!
noah says: mr r… thank you for saying my bike is cool!
I enjoy parades…yes, even when it's JUST me and 5 kids. BUT I am never as good as you taking pictures.
Thanks for sharing your day. Jael and Abishai rode in one of our last parades–fun!!
Noah reminds me so much of the stories of Josh when he was little–setting the trend of "cool!"