Marigold Parade

Thanks for turning me on to this Howie!
I had no idea what we were getting in to. I expected a small turn out with a short parade. But we dressed up and painted sugar skulls on our faces and decided to throw ourselves in.
WOW! Seemed like a huge turn out despite the rain. And the parade just kept going… and going… and going. Many local organizations, schools and businesses turned out small floats or just marched in a group. Many stunning costumes, even the ones that weren’t stunning were nice to see an effort being made.
The little festival afterwards, at the community center was nice. A number of food trucks and lots of craft vendors showed off their wares. A band even played but soon shut down due to weather. They likely came back to the stage after we left and the rain let up.
My one gripe for the organizers… use rain protection for the band… somehow.

This parade is about as local as it gets.
Some enterprising, devilish, snarly businessperson is going to swoop down on this sucker, it’s inevitable. The event beats the attendance of virtually any other civic festival in the city, bar none, year-​round (Balloon Fiesta doesn’t qualify). I’d guesstimate that they hit some 60,000 this year, a sea of skeleton face that extended for miles. The most amazing part of the entire thing? Virtually no vendors. Believe you/​me, this won’t last much longer.
But while we have this parade where it should be, where we wish it would stay, in our hearts just a cluster of passionate locals and inspired floats, sweet community kids, unbelievably street-​worthy low-​ridahs and thorough grassroot activism, let me send this prayer to the souls that make it so fabulous each and every gorgeous autumn:
Grant me the Serenity to accept that things may someday change
Courage to hold on tight to the things I cherish;
and Wisdom to know that Capitalism crushes festivity
Amen.
Until that sad day comes, I’m thrilled to live in a city where the people who attend the festival are also hand-​in-​hand participants. Love ya, Marigold Parade.