Not to brag, but I’ve been to a lot of parades. I’ve been to big parades – again, I really don’t want to brag, but I’ve, sniff, marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade – and small parades and parades that really should have been defined less as “parades” and more as “traffic.” Really, again, I am so far from bragging, sniff sniffy sniff, but I think you could go as far to call me a parade connoisseur.
As a parade connoisseur (your words, not mine), it is my opinion that small parades are better than big parades. Don’t get me wrong: big parades are razzle-dazzle, but if your goal is to enjoy the floats via an unobstructed close-up view, get your hands on some candy, and move on with your life in 45 minutes or less, small parades are tops. Also, one of my favorite things about small towns is that it’s all hands on deck for events, and I love seeing the hard work and excitement on everyone’s faces when it’s pulled off. Plus, I’m really good at waving. That’s an actual brag.
Last weekend, the Kyle Kosior Family (along with the Keith Kosior Family, the Riley Kosior Family, the Lionel Kosior Family, the Brian Kosior Family, the Lisa Kosior Family, and probably some other Kosior Families because we are ev-ver-y-where) attended the 120th celebration of the Creelman Fair. Known as “The Biggest Little Fair in Saskatchewan,” the Creelman Fair had everything and more you would expect from a small-town fair: A pancake breakfast! A horse show! A dog competition! Inflatables! A pig scramble! A petting zoo! Ketchup chips! Music! A baseball tournament! And, of course, A PARADE.
My brother-in-law, Keith, was one of the parade organizers. In a big parade, having a brother-in-law who was one of the parade organizers would probably get you backstage access and/or a spot in the parade, but since my brother-in-law was also part of the Lions Club and, as such, in charge of filling the Lions Club oil-drums-turned-clown-cars with children like my nine-year-old, we got those perks anyways. We dropped Nine off in a field of floats and musical acts, looked around quickly but not very hard for Keith’s wife, Jenn, who was driving one of the fire trucks, didn’t see her, and drove onto Main Street to find a primo spot for parade watching. That spot came via the front yard of one of the houses. Kyle pulled his own truck in between two other trucks and lowered the bed door for sittin’ and watchin’.
Because it was the 120th anniversary the parade had nearly 80…Google says “units,” which feels weird. I’d say I’d tell you about my favorites except that EVERY one was my favorite, so instead I’ll provide a sampling so you can picture yourself there.
There were a number of musical units acts, including a team of bagpipers and the Wa Wa Shrine Drum Corps out of Regina who rode in an enclosed trailer box and continued to play for whatever crowd was nearby once they parked back in the gathering section. A five-piece mariachi band was led by a woman in a traditional Mexican dress, who swooped and swirled her skirt and arms to the mariachi stylings of “Macarena.”
One of the musical acts was three seniors in a vintage Model T. The three people were the driver, the driver’s friend/candy thrower, and a woman in the back seat playing the ukulele. They were called the Uke-U-LuLus, and if you think that name won’t be stuck in your head for the rest of the day and when you think of it you’ll bounce up and down like you’re a ukulele string, you’re wrong.
Since this was Canada, one of the floats was a Zamboni.
Speaking of vehicles, there was a stack of really cool vintage automobiles and farm equipment. An old John Deere tractor was driven by two handsome young men dressed in suspenders and hats, and we got a pretty good look at them because the tractor broke down right in front of us and they had to jump out, attach jumper cables (clearly, not the first time), and hop back on quickly once the engine restarted. The boys’ dad followed on his own vintage tractor with these giant spikey wheels, and when he jumped off to help the boys he kept the tractor rolling. Fun fact, Kyle went to high school with the dad.
Speaking of people we knew, between my brother-in-law, nieces and nephews, and Kyle, we knew 70% of the parade. I knew 100% of the parade because I waved to everyone and everyone waved back to me and oftentimes threw me candy (and the radio station gave Kyle a mug, which is basically the same as giving him an engagement ring), which was very nice because grownups are oft forgotten when it comes to parade candy. The best candy being handed out, in my opinion, was not candy at all but freezee ice pops – which were great because they were both delicious and refreshing since it was 900 degrees (Celsius) outside. The second-best candy being handed out, in my opinion, was caramels.
The Wa Was were not the only Shriners in attendance; a team of Shriners on ATVs and in a miniature semi-truck and a miniature ambulance would pause every ten feet or so and perform in formation. While most of the Shriners wore big, jolly grins, the gentleman in the miniature ambulance – arguably the jazziest one when it came to driving maneuvers – had a full-on downturned frowny face (the human equivalent of two diagonal lines for eyebrows and the deepest upside-down U for a mouth) the entire time. Joy is serious business.
As it was 900 degrees (Celsius), one of the fire trucks in the parade shot water out of a small hose on the front of the hood and many of the kids ran in front of it of it to cool down. As you recall, my sister-in-law was driving a fire truck but not that fire truck because that fire truck was from another station. She did, however, have her dog in the front seat and that was almost as good as the water. It turned out later that the fire hose caused a bit of drama because the parade rules clearly stated no water balloons or water pistols and if the Fillmore Fire Department had known the other fire truck was shooting water…well, they would have done it, too. Next year.
After the parade, we went to collect the kids and congratulate everyone on a truly awesome parade. Nine’s float won “Best Children’s Entry,” which meant that he got a medal – which was exciting to Kyle and me, but less exciting to Nine since he had a bag full of candy (impressive since he didn’t actually watch any of the parade). Thirteen and his cousins also had giant bags full of candy because if you want candy, and joy, and vintage tractors, and wonderful people, small town parades are the place to get them.
The photo above is entitled, “Waiting for the parade to start.”
This week on North Dakota Today we talked about Tracy Moch, my Nice Person of the Week, as well as a young author named Lindsey Undlin who is headed to the National Book Festival. Enjoy! (Valley News Live)
Mark your calendars for the South Central Threshing Bee! (North Dakota Nice)
Well, this is the exact kind of thing I like, isn’t it? The Grand Forks Police Department Impact Academy Kids held a car wash in order to fund their Random Acts of Kindness. (Facebook)
Fargo’s Linda Lake got a shout-out and a song dedication from Blake Shelton on her 50th birthday. (Valley News Live)
Williston’s Taya Horob-Hagley will graduate with her MBA at age 20. (KFYR TV)
Fargo Public Schools literally rolled out the red carpet for their new teachers. (Facebook)
James Buchli, the first North Dakotan in space, will be the latest recipient of the Rough Rider Award. (KX Net)
Glyndon’s Debby Parise is Minnesota’s sewing machine angel. (Fargo Forum)
Kyle and his friends, Corey and Kelly, have a podcast called North Dakota After Dark where they talk about youth hockey in North Dakota. The latest episode is up and is an interview with Kyle Kosior himself. Check it out. Bonus: you can watch it on YouTube. (North Dakota After Dark)
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