Starla Rose, an eighth-grader at Discovery Middle School, recalled being a little nervous when she performed with her band in the Hazel Dell Parade of Bands last year for the first time. As a drum major, she has to march in step while giving signals to the rest of the band to stop and start songs while crowds of people watch.
“Sometimes it’s a challenge,” she said. But she said the experience of being out with her friends performing is a fun time.
Saturday was the 54th annual parade. Boy Scouts clad in their uniforms carried banners. Local politicians running for office climbed into convertibles to wave to the public. Classic cars and tractors took to the streets. Members of churches and community groups climbed into trucks they had decked out into floats. Crowds lined up on the street. Kids clutched bags they hoped to fill full of candy thrown or handed to the crowds.
Brad Lothspeich, the long-time chair of the event, said that while there were 133 entries from local businesses, nonprofits and other groups, the event has kept its original focus.