SUNDRE – The community’s annual parade on Saturday morning might’ve come close to redefining the meaning of a float.
However, the steady downfall of rain wasn’t enough to dampen everybody’s spirits.
Although some parade entries including the marching concert bands pulled out on account of the less-than-ideal conditions, the cold wet weather overall didn’t quite rain on everyone’s parade and plenty of people came out to watch the procession prepared with raincoats, rubber boots and umbrellas.
Children especially didn’t seem to mind, largely unfazed – some even gleefully hopping through puddles – as they darted out to scoop up candy thrown from brave people manning the floats.
Dignitaries included local members of the municipal council, Yellowhead riding MP William Stevenson and Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Jason Nixon as well as the leadership of the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association’s committee, president Shane Crouch and vice-president Scott Smith.
There originally were 81 entries registered but 17 ended up cancelling as a result of the weather, said Moe Fahey, the municipality’s events and festivals coordinator.
Understandably among those who opted out was the Red Deer Royals, she said.
“Those that came anyways were all awesome, so enthusiastic and laughed in spite of the weather,” she added.
“Does a heart great to see those little ones lined up and getting showered with candy along the route.”
Some residents set up canopy tents while others watched from opened garage doors or from underneath extended awnings from RVs.
“Everyone’s effort did not go unnoticed,” she said, expressing gratitude to everyone including the volunteers who braved the elements until the very end.
Fahey also extended her appreciation to Brian and Colleen Coleman for making the trek out to with a team of horses to drive Crouch and Smith, who were all smiles amid the rain in an open carriage.
“It was a true Sundre spirit,” she said.
It was also the first – and likely to be only – time ever in the parade’s history to have taken a route through Sundre’s northeast residential subdivision after coming south down James River Road onto Centre Street North before going east along 12th Ave. then south on 2nd Street and ultimately taking 5th Ave. back to Centre Street to loop back to the staging area.
Next year, the parade will once again return to the traditional route along the Highway 27-Main Avenue corridor once the $11-plus million overhaul and redesign of the road is completed.
