Labor Day Sunday 2013

Labor Day Sunday 2013

People begin to meander toward main street Pacific Beach between 1100 and noon on Labor Day Sunday.  Most carry lawn chairs in hopes of staking out a good spot along the road for parade watching. Chair spots are delineated with milk crates and vinyl tape.  The hope is to keep business driveways clear.  It works until the parade has arrived.

 

People Watching occupies your time while you await the parade.  Kids, strollers, and dogs offer many interesting sights.

 

 

 

 

This larger than life Newfoundland created quite a stir wherever he and his master roamed.

 

This year, the bikers and their fancy Harley Davidson bikes made interesting viewing.

The donut ladies and sno-cone venders did a booming business on Sunday.

 

This lady sold blackberry shortcake and clam fritters.  A bratwurst booth, fry bread and t-shirts made up some other booths.

 

   The Kelper’s Parade operates on beach     time.  It begins in Moclips, the little     town north of Pacific Beach and winds its way down the highway, past   the military facility on the hill of Pac Beach and then turns right to travel the 4-5 blocks of Pac Beach.  It disbands at the grade school. Starting time in Moclips is 12:00 give or take a little. Organization remains highly relaxed.  When the parade arrives in Pacific Beach depends on starting time and how fast or how slow the lead vehicles travel. 



Generally speaking the parade and the fans along the street come together between 1:00 and 1:30 pm. Kids and adults stand ready with cameras and/or plastic bags. Candy and bead necklaces are thrown to the by-standers as each group passes by.

Local emergency vehicles lead the parade with sirens blasting and horns honking.

 

 

 

Float construction show original designs, most of which are towed along the parade route.

 

 

 

The chicken brigade advertising Aloha Storage entered the parade for a first time this year.

 

The rooster followed behind the hens, as did the farmer and his wife.

 

The balloon lady showed up for another year. Last year she frightened the horses being ridden in the parade.

 

 

 

Perennial parade favorites include The Ocean Shores Pirates.   Their cannon booms after a “fire in the hole” shout out.

 

What’s not to like about a pirate in purple!

 

 

 

The motley crew parades with plenty of spirit….and candy….and beads.

 

Did you notice the lovely pirate ladies????

 

 

I think this float was sponsored by the Outhouse Tavern.  This one had young kids aboard.  But in years past, some of the adult floats sponsored by taverns have a keg on tap as they parade.

 

 

Every year a car club receives a parade invite.  One year it was Corvettes, on year PT cruisers, and sometimes vintage cars. This year parade goers were treated to all kinds of jeeps.  Kinda made you want to go buy one.

 

 

 

This float obviously required forethought and building.  Loved it!

 

 

 

 

Every parade needs a King and Queen.  Check out the beautiful wooden kayaks.  I think the top vessel’s base looks like a canoe.

 

 

 

These two groups express the spirit of day….FUN !  FUN ! FUN!

 

 

Random floats in the parade.

 

Bud and Howie’s Sweet Shop entry.






 

 

The Crab Mobile

   The crowds loiter around at the end of the parade, perhaps sad to see the frivolity end. Then they gather up their chairs, candy bags and beads and head off toward home.  Where do all these people come from???  Pacific Beach is a sleepy little burg with few businesses. Yet on this Sunday every year the town greets hundreds of visitors for this funky parade.

 

  As per usual the wind blows in about dinner time.  We used my wind screens to help protect us from some of the elements.  We never choose our dinner location until just before dinner time. We try to find the rig with the least wind and puddles.   My camera also decided to quit. So the dinner photos are from my phone.

 

Friends enjoy visiting with each other as everyone arrives with their lawn chairs and potluck offerings.

 

 

Our group includes some excellent cooks and we eat well.  This year we fed about 40 people at the holiday potluck.   We eat, we laugh and we enjoy these special moments with such special friends.

 

 

Next:  The kite festival