'Impromptu Parade' takes La Conner by storm

It didn’t rain on La Conner’s parade last Saturday.

Instead it rained beforehand and afterward. The US Bank-sponsored Kiwanis Not-So-Impromptu Tulip Parade – which, quite fittingly, started 15 minutes later than scheduled – couldn’t have been better timed.

Afternoon clouds had lifted, if ever so briefly, when Grand Marshal John Doyle, in Brad Bradford’s 1930 Model A Ford pickup, started south on First Street, followed by La Conner’s vintage white fire truck, driven by Dave Alvord, with Mayor Ramon Hayes riding shotgun. In the back were a bevy of town officials and dignitaries. At least Town Councilor Mary Wohleb and Park Commissioner Ollie Iversen werespotted.

The procession was well received by those who braved the elements and lined downtown sidewalks and the Benton Street stairs.

“I always look forward to this,” said Tony Hernandez, whose wife, Margie, and granddaughter, Addison, were part of the La Conner Civic Garden Club entry. “This is the one parade I always go to.”

He had plenty of company.

The town fairly bustled with locals and tulip tourists alike, some parade-goers having to park as far away as the hilltop Skagit County Historical Museum. Buses on La Conner’s streets, but not in the parade, came from Bellingham, Federal Way, Lacy and Spokane, at least.

The volunteers collecting petitions to get issue 1631 on the November ballot, which will price carbon in Washington, reducing fossil fuel use and fund alternative energy sources, gained signatures from attendees from as far away as King County.

The endearing local parade, brainchild of late La Conner Kiwanian Luke Long and now in its fourth decade, remains a pet project for many. As always, there was no shortage of animals – real, costumed and motorized – in the parade lineup. A favorite was the Shetland pony that blended seamlessly into a group of leashed pooches.

In keeping with Long’s legacy, the Nile Temple Shriners returned in full force, complete with their famed Oriental Band.

The parade likewise attracted antique and classic vehicles – though, as one spectator lamented, no Corvettes – plus the La Conner High School band, popular fish cycle and much, much more.

The La Conner Soroptomists contingent of 20 danced up the street, unrelated to the La Conner High School Band. The La Conner Garden Club and La Conner Sunrise Food Bank were similarly full supported. Of course, the local Rotary Club and the parade’s namesake Kiwanis club marched, the latter hauling a trailer full of school kids.

The orange cat-mobile van purred through.

If there were float prizes they might have gone to the bicyclist with his net fish sculpture or the bandana pirate in his ship, complete with center mast and rigging boasting skulls and cross bones.

The over 200 people watching lined up primarily between Morris and Washington. Dorothy and Roger Galan anchored themselves in their lawn chairs in front of the La Conner Pub. Roger noted that they “came all the way here for this” from Bay View.

Some folks got edgy as the 2 p.m. start time came and passed with no parade in sight.

A pair of tourists began to depart around 2:10, hesitant to get caught in any rain that might have been on the way.

“They said it was an impromptu parade,” one explained, starting to hike up the steep Benton steps.

They meandered back, though, when reminded it was actually a Not-So-Impromptu Parade, and that it would definitely take place, though on La Conner Standard Time.

They were glad they stayed, pretty much a universal view.

“Addison has been excited all week about the parade,” Hernandez said. “There was no way she was going to miss it, whether it rained or not.”

It did not rain on this parade. As if on schedule, the rain waited till well after the five-vehicle strong Fire District 13 contingent brought up the rear. Just like that, the 15 minute parade passed the post office at 2:30 p.m. For the viewers there, the parade was over.