Post Falls Days fills streets with fun

Yes, it was a big race day for Conner Milbrath. The 4-year-old was preparing for another first-place finish at the Big Wheel Race after the Post Falls Days parade Saturday.

Conner and his brother, Cameron Milbrath, 8, both streaked through the finish line at last year’s race, and Conner was hoping to do the same this year.

It was a day for the children and those young at heart in Post Falls, with the city celebrating the beginning of summer through music, food, various wares and a six-block parade.

The Milbrath brothers debated who was faster as Cameron held up his brother’s trophy from last year.

Of course, as the big brother, Cameron knew he could not be bested at any big wheel meeting between the two.

“I can beat him with tricycles,” said Conner.

Cameron just shook his head at the accusation.

Colton Schmitt, 5, and Deanna May, 4, were also preparing for the race.

Deanna couldn’t stop her legs from moving on her big wheel before the parade began.

“Last year I handed out Popsicles,” she said of a previous parade in Rathdrum.

She also won her category for the Big Wheel Race the year before.

Colton became a tough interview when Ronald McDonald showed up to discuss the day with the kids.

Eyes on the clown, he explained that he was excited for the race – so excited in fact, that he was up before his mom and dad Saturday morning.

Parade participants readied their floats. Bill Sali, Republican candidate for Idaho’s 1st congressional district seat, stood next to a black car adorned with his political regalia. A flock of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brady’s supporters stood with him in the road.

Young women from the Post Falls Junior Miss program stood atop a float readying their best parade waves.

And then there were the Coeur d’Alene Red Hot Mamas, sporting a neon-hot look with bright pinks, oranges and yellows. They pushed carts and walkers and such down Seltice Way, boogieing to the beat and giving their best wacky smiles.

Meanwhile, cousins Ashley Williams, Madi Shedenhelm and Jessie Wilkinson sat with their family on Sixth Street. Those in the parade were stationed there before making their way to the main route on Seltice.

Madi admitted they were cheating a little by sitting on Sixth, but it was easier to get candy, she said.

“She’s a candy eater,” Ashley, 8, said.

“I’m a candy fool,” Madi, 5, said, her smile nearly as big as her brown eyes.

The girls liked the horses and Coeur d’Alene’s butterfly fantasy float. But candy was a major factor in their day. They had prepared plastic bags to reap sugary rewards.

Jessie, 4, didn’t have much to say about the day but still had her plastic sack at the ready.

The Post Falls Days parade kept the hustle and bustle at Q’emiln Riverside Park to a dull roar for the morning. Charlie Butts and the Filter Tips entertained the crowd with rockin’ blues by 11:30 a.m.

Again, adults were everywhere, but the children seemed to be having most of the fun.

The carnival was freckled with kids of all ages. James Anderson, 7, had just come from playing games with his parents. He had a blowup baseball bat, a picture and a rubber band gun to show for it.

“I’m just aiming at things like the tree,” he said.

Other children munched on German sausages, corndogs, funnel cake or pizza.

James was having a fun enough time listening to the band and walking around looking at the various booths, he said. Vendors sold necklaces, toys and more. It would be hard to keep track of the more than 70 booths and 30 food shacks.

So James sat with his parents, readying another rubber band for his gun, deciding on his next target.

Some around their table danced; most sat, ate and watched the band. Kids came giggling off carnival rides.

And it all continues today.