50th Birthday Parade Update: “Look Up The Word ‘Juggernaut’”

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To see Photos from the 2009 50th Birthday/Waterland Parade, click here. To read our firsthand account and see photos of what it was like for us to be in the parade (then hang out with the Seafair Pirates, click here.]

by Pat Nardo

Somewhere there is someone that does not love a parade or flock to enjoy the magnificent array of people, floats and band music.

Well, thank goodness that person does not live in Des Moines!

As we are in the last lap of your parade preparations, there is an almost surprising number of applicants, thanks to our “Dear Leader” Anna Bjorneby and her Advisor Fran Woodard, we have now recruited an army of pleasure for an unforgettable 5oth anniversary parade.

The latest estimate from Anna is about 1,000 people will be in our parade and we are half way there already.

Now, we all know the difference between a cake and a parade, right? They do have in common a need for an array of necessary ingredients. So it is with our parade and just to begin with, there will be two antique autos, four marching bands, three commercial entries, two local businesses, five community groups, mostly non-profit, and more. Look for a yesteryear’s horse drawn wagon to appear from out of a page of history, along with a “spare.” From our latest information, there will be three or more floats along with a couple of new ones not seen before. Our friends from Highline Water District will play a part in your parade this year with a mascot who is a teacher of sorts. Getting away from the serious side, look for our favorites, the Seafair Clowns, Seafair Pirates, and of course, The Keystone Cops with their theme, “Cops are good guys too!”

The usual “deadline” for a parade application and acceptance is waived and you may still join us right up to the last day, so see if you can overwhelm us with your overpowering desire to be seen, heard and loved by Des Moines. It is also true that we could use a few more volunteers.

Small businesses in Des Moines are rarely able to supply any presence away from their business so a hearty welcome is earned by “The Waterland Blog”. “Best in Show Pet Salon”, and “Des Moines Dog House”. You can say “thank you” to these business people by spreading the word on www.waterlandblog.com, take Pierre or Fido to the Pet Salon, and then stop for a gourmet hot dog at the Dog House. Okay, you may share the dog with your dog! They have outside seating.

As we have all been told, “All good things must end”. Your parade is not an exception to this ancient advisory. Your parade, Des Moines, will have a spectacular ending!

Stay tuned. Oh, and while you are waiting, look up the word juggernaut.

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