Attending parades is a favorite activity of mine. Thankfully for me, it seems as if every festival and event includes a parade. So, attending one every weekend is not a problem in the Driftless region. In fact, a Facebook event reminder popped up and reminded me that there is a parade to go to tonight in Waukon, Iowa, to celebrate dairy month.
Parades have taken on a different look over the past year thanks to COVID-19. Many of the changes were a welcoming change and will become the new norm.
So, before we begin to rate parades, let us look at Merriam-Webster’s definition of a parade. The online dictionary defines a parade as “a public celebration of a special day or event that usually includes many people and groups moving down a street by marching or riding in cars or on special vehicles (called floats).” So, pondering, why I enjoy watching parades mentally creating a checklist at the same time.
“A parade looks like a bunch of people are excited about being in traffic.” Demetri Martin
“A procession is a participants’ journey, while a parade is a performance with an audience.” Rebecca Solnit
Table of Contents
Music Makes the Parade
Music is a must, whether the music is coming from a community band in the back of a truck or on a float, or a school marching band; I do not care; there just have to be entries with live music. School bands are my favorite, so double points if the parade has multiple school bands.
Sweet Tooth
What is a parade without a candy toss? Double points for tootsie rolls and triple points for fresh cheese sticks. The flower shop in Mabel, Minnesota, hands out fresh carnations during the Hesper-Mabel Steam Engine Days earning the parade bonus points.
“When I’ve ridden in parades, I always throw to the kids, the elderly, and anyone who is smiling and having a great time. I try to make eye contact with the person. If you catch a ton and a kid nearby hasn’t caught much, share.” Bryan Batt
Who is that Doggie in the Window
Parades must have entries with dogs. My heart melts when I see dogs walking or riding in a parade. If the dogs are dressed up they bring a smile to my face, and I immediately snap a picture.
On Stage
Clowns are a crowd favorite and parade organizers deserve a round of applause plus extra points for including multiple units of clowns in their town’s parade. I always look forward to watching the Shriner clowns in their one-of-a-kind costumes perform as they drive their motorized trikes down the parade route.
“He looked like something that had gotten loose from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.” Harpo Marx
The Wave
I would be remiss if I did not mention tractor parades and include a picture of a tractor. Tractor parades must be a Midwestern thing because I do not remember seeing tractors in parades in New Mexico. If there were any, there definitely were not close to as many as there are in the parades in this area. The parade during the Hesper-Mabel Steam Engine Days must feature over 100 tractors in the parade, red, yellow, green, blue, and pink tractors.
The End
I love seeing the horse entries, especially when they prance.
“Never let the guy with the broom decide how many elephants can be in the parade.” Merlin Mann
God Bless America
“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” Erma Bombeck