County gears up for Lilac Parade

It’s time to stop and smell the lilacs.

Spokane’s 66-year-old annual tradition kicks off Saturday with a new car show, followed by the 2004 Lilac Parade and ending with a brand-new fireworks show.

“We are just really pumped. This particular year has just been outstanding,” said Brusan Wells, the Lilac Festival’s executive director. “We’ve just done anything we can to celebrate all that’s great about Spokane.”

This year’s theme just happens to be “Celebrate Spokane.”

The Spokane Lilac Festival Association has added some new events into the mix, including a complete overhaul of the royalty court. This year, 26 Spokane County schools nominated one girl each, and the field was narrowed to just one princess, six royal court members and seven ambassadors. Jenna Johnson, of Oaks Classical Christian Academy, was named the Lilac Queen.

Also new is the addition of the Cruzin’ the Falls Car Show, which begins at 10 a.m. Staged along Spokane Falls Boulevard will be antique and classic cars from throughout the region. America’s Car, a NASCAR racer, will be parked at Riverfront Park.

Car registration will be open until 11 a.m., Wells said.

Trophies and awards for the car show will be given at 4 p.m., and car entrants will drive the parade route from 6 to 7 p.m., Wells said.

The parade begins at 7:45 p.m. at Spokane Falls Boulevard and Washington Street, with the traditional fly-over by a KC-135 tanker stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base. There are 185 entries in this year’s parade, Wells said.

Spokane police will start blocking off the streets around 2:30 p.m., so the public is reminded to move cars off the parade route. Cars parked along the route after 2:30 p.m. will be impounded, police said.

Wells encouraged folks to buy tickets for the parade bleachers, which will be set up along the route on both sides of Spokane Falls Boulevard. The tickets will be available Saturday at the Lilac Festival trailer at Main and Washington for $10 each. Tickets for seniors 62 and older, students and children ages 3 to 18 cost $5. Children 3 and younger get free tickets.

Of course, festivalgoers can always set up their lawn chairs and blankets along the parade route. But get downtown early. Competition is fierce for a bird’s eye view.

The festivities will end at Riverfront Park with the fireworks display at 10:30 p.m.

“It’s time to celebrate life and live it,” Wells said.

“Get out, put the cell phone down, put the pager down, and be with people and watch our American flag go by.”