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Grand marshals led a grand parade
WELL CHOSEN GRAND MARSHALS – Not at all impromptu was the choice to honor Barbara and Brad Bradford as grand marshals for last week's Tulip Parade. Brad says the tulip yellow 1949 Jeepster, made by Willys-Overland in Toledo, Ohio, and lent by Vanessa Finch, was the perfect car on a less than perfect Saturday, weatherwise.
JOINING A LA CONNER TRADITION – Mom Kylee Fortygin holds Sophie while watching dad Kirill baptize daughter Belle at the family's first Pioneer Park Easter coin scramble Saturday.
THERE'S GOLD, OR COINS AT LEAST, IN THAT STRAW – Just like the old days, before pandemics, even back to when these parents were kids, the annual La Conner Fire Association organized Easter egg hunt and coin scramble, tiered for two age groups, took place in Pioneer Park Saturday.
The 36th annual La Conner Kiwanis Not-So-Impromptu Tulip Festival Parade Saturday did not lay an egg.
That chore was left to the Easter Bunny, who did his usual egg-ceptional job at Pioneer Park a few hours before the downtown serpentine, which many onlookers afterward ranked among the best tulip parades since the late Kiwanian Luke Long first invited his Nile Temple cohorts to march down First Street without a permit in the 1980s.
Parade spectators included some who started in the Park at the La Conner Fire Department's Easter Egg Hunt. They hopped downtown to see an event that featured a little something for everyone.
The Skagit County Sheriff's Office and Skagit Bay Search and Rescue joined an array of emergency vehicles and equipment; several looped the route a second time.
All had the good fortune of being greeted by the firefighters' association's Kelly Silva, who stopped parade traffic to offer choices of free cookies, a La Conner health food Saturday.
"I'll take anything I get," Search and Rescue's Gary Ladd, who walked the route, gratefully told Silva.
"Are you seriously handing out cookies?" asked another parade participant with the Ann Washington chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution contingent.
Indeed she was, brightening the day of those who hadn't found enough eggs to fill their Easter baskets.
Brad and Barb Bradford of La Conner were parade grand marshals, honored for eschewing a relaxed retirement to tirelessly champion local civic causes. Barb Bradford has been active in the La Conner chapter of Soroptimist International and both worked in the library thrift shop that raised money for the new La Conner Swinomish Library.
Brad Bradford also donated a vintage truck that was sold to help fund the new facility at Sixth and Morris streets.
Tulip parade attendees also enjoyed seeing 1950s era Chevys, the gleaming white 1941 La Conner fire engine and the always popular Meow Mixmobile – which is in a category unto itself.
The La Conner Civic Garden Club, La Conner Soroptimists and WaFD Bank were each a presence as well.
In keeping with its origin, the Shriners were well represented, which Long would've greatly appreciated.
Another popular entry – probably including the young man enlisted as a pooper scooper – was the Skagit Latin Horses, whose steeds strode beautifully through the business district guided by riders wearing ceremonial sombreros.
There were clowns, jugglers, a stilt walker and unicyclist, all maintaining a festive atmosphere despite overcast, cool and breezy less-than-ideal spring weather conditions.
It did not rain on this parade. Instead, a sunny disposition carried the day, as passionately promoted by the Shriners' parade theme of "Smile with Nile."
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