Mount Si parade registration still open
July 24, 2008
By Laura Geggel
For the past 40 years, a parade has kicked off the Festival at Mount Si – formerly known as Alpine Days – with locals performing gymnastics, marching with their pets and banners or waving from the back seat of a souped-up car.
Registration for this year’s Aug. 9 parade is open until July 31. Forms can be found at www.festivalatmtsi.org. Parade check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. for the 10:30 show.
“I’m always thrilled with how many people come out and get their routines and make floats,” said Parade Coordinator Tina Brandon.
Brandon said the festival still needs volunteers and she encouraged people to visit the Web site to learn more about how to help. A lack of volunteers has led to the cancellation of the 5-and 10k races, hosted by the Snoqualmie Valley Track Club.
Participants and onlookers involved with the parade can line up along Cedar Falls Way, North Bend Way, Main Street and Second Street in downtown North Bend. The parade will end in the North Bend Elementary School parking lot.
Some parade participants include Smokey Bear, Seattle Mountain Rescue, Gymnastics Express and Cascade Canine. With Election Day nearing, local candidates might make a cameo, Brandon said. Depending on his schedule, the Republican candidate for governor, Dino Rossi, might come.
As usual, the Mount Si High School Marching Band and the Panther Pride Unicycle Team will stride or ride through downtown North Bend.
The parade may be a treat for onlookers, but participants are forbidden to throw sweets into the crowd. Candy may only be passed out by hand.
Groups will perform throughout the parade circuit, but they’ll stand a little straighter when they approach the three-paneled judges’ stand near the North Bend Bar and Grill for their one-minute routine.
Nancy Whitaker, former executive director of Encompass, is already practicing her hand waving as this year’s Parade Grand Marshal.
“It will be fun to be in the parade and see everybody turning out,” Whitaker said. “It’s quite distinctive to be that person; there’s only one a year.”
Whitaker said she normally carries the Encompass banner during the parade, but will still represent her old organization by wearing an Encompass T-shirt during the parade.
Last year, Laura Tarp, culinary arts teacher at Mount Si High School, fulfilled the grand marshal role.
The Maple Valley Street Rats will also motor through the parade with their collection of cars – all predating 1975 models.
“We haul dignitaries around during the parade,” joked Maple Valley Street Rat President Doug Julson.
Julson urged “everybody to come out and feel all of the nostalgia from the cars out there that bring back old memories of the twenties, on up to the seventies.
“They can remember their high school cars and their first dates,” Julson said. “I just get a real rush from seeing these cars and looking at the expressions of people when they say ‘I had one of those.’”
The Maple Valley Street Rats will continue to display their cars Aug. 10 with a show that includes trivia, prizes and a demonstration of how to wax and detail a car.
Brandon called the parade “a nice way to get yourself known.”
The only challenge she foresees is managing through the construction along North Bend Way.
“The kids all love the parade,” Brandon said. “It’s a great way to start the festival.”
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
