The State Fair Parade is back and people couldn't be happier Saturday.
Spectators lined both sides of Burdick Expressway to watch a lively group of state and local politicians, beauty queens, clowns, farm equipment, classic cars, kids in clown or cowboy or other costumes and men, women and children on horseback and more meander past. Several people said the parade, which had about 200 entries, seemed even longer than usual.
Since last year's State Fair and State Fair Parade were called off because of a devastating flood, people seemed even more determined to enjoy it this year.
Article Photos
Andrea Johnson/MDN ? Peyton Janeway, 8, of Sidney, Mont., wears a clown?s nose distributed during the North Dakota State Fair Parade in Minot Saturday. She sits on the lap of her mother, Jeanna Janeway. In the background is her dad, Mike Janeway.
Andrea Johnson/MDN ? Amy Korslien, of Minot, watched the State Fair Parade with dogs Edda and Elsa.
Andrea Johnson/MDN ? Williston Shriners have fun in their mini-cars as a clown hands out red clown noses to the crowd at the State Fair Parade in Minot Saturday.
Sharon Torgerson, of Minot, said she and her family don't usually make a habit of going to the State Fair Parade but made an exception this year because her granddaughters are visiting. The girls spent the day at the fair on Friday, the opening day, and the State Fair Parade "kind of put the cap on" their visit," said Torgerson.
Torgerson said she's glad it's all back.
"It's been missed," she said.
Arwen Mayer, 6, of Minot, and other children in the crowd scrambled to collect candy handed out by people walking in the parade or thrown from passing floats.
The bounty was plentiful this year: candy, but also stickers, clown noses, small balls, toothbrushes, interesting looking glittery clown hats or bottled water. People riding on floats occasionally blasted the crowd with water from water guns or even silly string.
"The best part (of the fair parade) is watching her," said Arwen's mom, Tammy Mayer.
Tammy Mayer said Arwen's favorite part of the parade was definitely the candy.
Like many other experienced spectators, Tammy Mayer and her husband, Chad, had brought along comfortable folding chairs during the three-hour long parade.
Tammy Mayer said they also took Arwen to the fair on Friday and she enjoyed the rides and the games. They spent hours there.
"We had a hard time getting her to leave!" said Tammy Mayer, who said they will more than likely take Arwen back to the fair again this week.
The Mayers said they missed the fair parade last year and are also glad to have it and the fair parade back.
Peyton Janeway, 8, from Sidney, Mont., said she enjoyed the clowns in the parade. This year's parade theme was "Clownin' Around" and Ken Gillespie, better known to fair-goers as "Dizzy the Clown" was the parade's grand marshal. Many of the kids along the parade route, including Peyton, were sporting clown noses by the time the parade wound down.
Peyton enjoyed putting the clown nose on her own nose and then trying to get her mother, Jeanna Janeway, to put the nose on as well.
Jeanna Janeway said the family used to live in Minot and usually comes back for the fair every year. They missed it last year and are glad it's back.
Amy Korslien, who has lived in Minot for three years, was watching the parade from the Ward County Courthouse lawn with dogs Edda and Elsa.
Korslien said this is the second state fair she's attended, but she likes everything she sees. Her favorite thing was the clowns.
"I like the way the community comes together (for the parade)," she said.
Source: http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/567569.html
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.