Today is Arizona City Daze day. Daze, either a play on the word “days” or as Linda in the Chamber of Commerce office explained it, everyone on the Board of Directors and the Chamber employees are in a “daze” by the time its done and over.
In addition to the small group of carnival rides, the craft show vendors, the fry bread stand, the live music and all things usual with a small town celebration the most crowd gathering event is the parade.
Twenty years ago this parade consisted of a fire truck or two. That’s it. Today’s parade had 48 different participating groups in it.
The theme for the parade this year was honoring the military.
The parade started with a flyover of three planes from the Antique Aircraft Owners Association.
As you can see in the pictures we had a very dark cloudy day.
It was a little on the chilly side too.
I think every small town parade that I’ve ever seen starts out with one of, or the only one in some cases, the town’s fire engines. This parade was no different. Thinking about it now, I wonder if the fire engine is usually first in line so that it can get back to the fire station in case its needed. It would make sense.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the local Moose Lodge were next in line followed by a deuce and a half loaded with local veteran’s.
Now I’m not going to post pictures of every entry of the parade, although I have them, I’m going to bypass the local politicians and political wannabes who were starting the campaign trail in this local parade. You’re welcome. :-)
The Shriner’s band from the Tucson temple was there for our entertainment.
Of course if the Shriner’s are involved the “little cars” are around too. This is the first time I had ever seen a tow truck.
I can’t help but notice that the man in the picture below is a pretty big guy. By no means a man of slight stature. I wish I had seen him either get into or out of this little car.
The vans were something I hadn’t seen before either.
What’s a parade without clowns????
Next in line were the DOGS. Mostly from Quail Run and all decked out in their costumes.
This group won the award for Best Comedy entry.
The local Red Hat Society chapter, the Hootin’ Hatters had a cute entry in the parade.
The Casa Grande Four Wheelers showed their stuff in the parade!
Three at once!
Quail Run’s other entry into the parade was a group of service members from both the US and Canada doing their part to the honor the military of both countries.
Our friend, Kathy, carried the US flag.
Our guys gave out candy to the parade watchers.
This group won Best Float!!!!
The next float was entered by the local Moose Lodge and it took the Grand Prize.
I don’t know who entered the next float but I do like its message!
Because there were 48 entries in this year’s parade and a parade is slow moving, one may wonder where the end of the parade is. That wasn’t a problem today. A local bakery company had one of its tractor trailers in the parade and it carried this message.
We didn’t stay to go to the carnival area of the celebration. It was too darn chilly.
So there you have it……
We attended a dance with a country theme tonight. The Activities Department did a great job with the decorating.
Here’s Sandy, our friend and the line dance instructor for the park, on her buckin’ bronco.
It was at this point that my camera started giving me problems. I do have something that needs to be fixed on it and it acted up again tonight. Therefore I have no other GOOD pictures to share from the dance that we all had so much fun at. Cactus Carl and Sandy….as usual, you did a great job!
I was able to get one more picture before the night was over.
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