The Washington Street Parade
Every parade should be like the Washington Street Parade.
It should be led by a single fire truck, followed by a homemade sign.
The band should be filled with neighbors who value community and know only one song: “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
It should consist primarily of cute neighborhood kids riding their newly decorated wagons, tricycles, and bikes.
There should be no politicians or capitalists trying to weasel votes or money from the bystanders. There can be a few news people, but they must be roundly ignored by everyone.
There should be someone juggling at all times.
It should last five minutes, tops. Then it should turn around for a messy encore that disperses halfway through.
Let the super-patriots wave their flags, brandish their weapons, explode their fireworks, and boo those who are foolish enough to demonstrate their right to free speech. I want a parade to reflect what democracy should be — far more participation than observation; far more people in the parade than watching on the sideline.
Lastly, there should always be a storm trooper walking with his family.
6 comments
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Where and when did it start? Was it on the fourth? Who sponsored it? Were the police and fire costs volunteers? I guess if you have to ask, you are not invited. Was it advertised? Was this the first one?
And you wonder where they get that elitist material…
Justin McLeod
So true. SITTING and WATCHING a parade isn’t fun. It should be about interaction. In my hometown we just stand on the side of the street while a bunch of strangers wave to us. Look at those pictures—the people are actually smiling and having fun.
Nice piece.
Jill W
This article is awesome - especially teh part about the storm trooper. Thanks for adding a touch of humor to this sometimes stale and over analytic community.
Dan S
Hey Ad, the Washington St. Parade is one of the many small neighborhood parades that are held in CU on the morning of the 4th of the July. I believe WSP is one of the oldest.
This isn’t really a journalistic piece with the whos, whats, and wheres, even though I see that it might be confusing without a separate preview on neighborhood parades. Maybe next year.
Not sure what you mean by the elitist material though.
Jason
Thanks for this. I haven’t wanted to go to a parade for a long time. I wasn’t aware of these little community parades, but they make me want to attend.
clark
Ad, the Washington Street Parade is not some subversive commie plot to infiltrate the young and impressionable minds of our children. it’s just a product of a community that, more than anything else, seeks to come together and enjoy what is both similar and distinctive. For 25 years, it’s been about good people having a good time. Community. Oops, I think I said that.
Ad, lighten up. Look for tree-huggin’, frog-lickin’ subversive plots in your own neighborhood.
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hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
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I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.