Parade Just Keeps Going Crowd Enjoys Record Number Of Entries

Pigtails flying, Kourtney Wear hopped and craned her neck.

There was no way around the wall of adults lining the sidewalk.

“I can’t see! I can’t see!” the 6-year-old Spokane girl squeaked.

No problem. Dad - who stands 6-foot-2 - provided the perfect perch to watch the 60th annual Lilac Parade rumble through downtown Spokane Saturday night.

“OK, but I don’t know how long Dad can hold out,” Jeff Wear said, hoisting his daughter onto his shoulders.

From her elevated vantage point, Kourtney saw the festival’s flagship float - the one with the Australian motif. She smiled when the motorized kangaroo bounced and the koala bear turned its head.

The Lilac Association float was a hit with the sidewalk throngs, up there with the boisterous Mariner Moose riding the hood of a Humvee and World War II hero Vernon Baker of St. Maries, Idaho.

The most bizarre bunch had to be the Red Hot Mamas of Coeur d’Alene, who danced in the street with cereal boxes and fruit for hats.

Politicians weren’t nearly as hot, with U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt, Spokane Mayor John Talbott and Spokane County Commissioner Phil Harris getting only a smattering of applause. One man cracked that police ought to ticket Harris for riding a car with a burned-out taillight.

There were a record 207 entries, ranging from a tank to giant balloon Snoopy, prompting some weary spectators to wonder whether the parade would last until midnight.

Thanks to balmy weather and the added draw of the Memorial Cup hockey tournament, the crowd was unofficially estimated at more than 80,000, one of the best turnouts in recent years.

Plenty of people packed in early to grab the best viewing spots. Some staked their claims by tying rope from parking meters to their lawn chairs.

One family took it a bit further.

John Rostrom of Spokane drove his 1985 Chevy van downtown at 1 p.m. He yanked out the rear bench seat and chained it to a parking meter. The old springs on the blue vinyl-and-cloth seat squeaked a little, but it proved to be the Cadillac of parade seating.

“It’s actually a little embarrassing,” said Rostrom’s sister, Susan Rostrom-Yale.

Other parade-goers demonstrated a bit more style. At the corner of Washington and First, Sam Lowderback and a friend munched on crackers, avocados, pecans and shrimp.

“After the kids left (home), we figured we could eat whatever,” Lowderback said.

Vendors working the parade route seemed to delight in selling things that interest kids but irritate their parents.

Top sellers included Dr. Seuss-style top hats and “Men In Black” inflatable aliens, but this year’s commercial annoyance du jour was a $5 plastic trumpet. It emitted a sound like a wounded walrus.

“We’re about ready to throw it on the roof,” said one annoyed parent, Carla Carrilla. Her son, Matt, bought one of the horns when she wasn’t looking.

While they waited for the parade, Matt started an impromptu honking duel with 12-year-old Josh Baum across the street.

Why?

“‘Cuz I knew it was going to be annoying,” Josh said.

Jesse Adams wrinkled his brow as horn-blowing kids blared away a few steps from his blanketed curb.

“This is absolutely normal Spokane behavior,” he said. “Nothing unusual going on here.”

LILAC PARADE WINNERS

Float award winners Community Sweepstakes (best overall): Coeur d’Alene Grand Marshal’s Award: Sunnyside President’s Award: Chewelah Community A: Puyallup Community B: Othello Community C: Cashmere Community D: Ritzville Community E: Davenport Community F: Naches Queen’s Award: Harrington Non-Commercial Sweepstakes: Tacoma Daffodil Non-Commercial: Washington Masonic Family Commercial Sweepstakes: Seattle Seafair Commercial: Southwest Airlines Armed Forces Sweepstakes: Naval and Marine Reserves Armed Forces: Team Fairchild Torchlight Award Sweepstakes: Othello Torchlight: Coeur d’Alene

High school bands Grand Sweepstakes: Sumner AAA Division: Wenatchee AA Division: Colville A Division: Freeman B Division: Liberty AAA Auxiliary: Ferris AA Auxiliary: Deer Park A Auxiliary: Orofino B Auxiliary: Liberty

Equestrian awards Single riders: Miss Othello Rodeo Units of two to nine riders: Lewiston Roundup Royalty, first; Miss Cheney Rodeo, second Units of 10 or more riders: Ellensburg Rodeo Posse Horse-drawn units, wagons, carriages, etc.: Tribers Clydesdales, first; Calgary Stampede and Exhibition Show Wagon, second