I love a parade!  I remember being a kid and walking to various events where there would be a parade.  I didn’t need to be in the parade to enjoy it.  Just seeing all the creativity that went into the floats, or the costumes, or the choreographed exhibitions, was great fun.  Then to be able to meet up with friends and catch up was always fun as well!  It didn’t matter that there would be crowds and it might be slow going to get out after, it was just a part of the event.

Every year when we are back home, the city of Marysville puts on a large parade called the Strawberry Festival parade.  This event is about a 2 weeks to a month long celebration of all things strawberry.  They have strawberry shortcake eating contests, they have carnivals, they have a pageant and even crown royalty that travel the state for all the other parades and events, they do all kinds of events during this time to draw the community out of their homes and into fellowship.  

Years ago it used to be a night time event and so it was a lighted parade, but since covid they have gone back to a daytime parade.  Folks will start lining the streets with their chairs at 6 am that morning, even though the parade might not be until 6 pm.  So for all those folks who forgot what day it was, as soon as they see the chairs they know.

I always enjoy when the pirates come through, blasting off their cannons and scraping their swords on the ground to spark.  We’ve always had an active pirate community so they enjoy getting dressed up as much as we enjoy seeing them.  We always have a kiddy section where any kids that want to can come dress up and walk in the parade, so that is really fun when the kids and pets are dressed alike, people are so creative and pets are so patient.
Do you know what events happen regularly in your city?  One thing that we loved about our Arlington community is that at least 6-8 times a year they had community events.  This really knit our community.  Maybe it is time you played tourist in your home town and checked into the local happenings, you might just find something new to enjoy!