Children’s Parade for freedoms, family traditions and Popsicles
A group of children watch as a clown finishes up her makeup during the Freedom Festival Children's Parade, Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Provo. The kids parade brought thousands of family members together for jubilation and family fun. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Kids enjoy festivities during the Freedom Festival Children's Parade, Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Provo. The kids parade brought thousands of family members together for jubilation and family fun. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Kids greet people in animal costumes as part of the festivities during the Freedom Festival Children's Parade, Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Provo. The kids parade brought thousands of family members together for jubilation and family fun. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Kids enjoy festivities during the Freedom Festival Children's Parade, Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Provo. The kids parade brought thousands of family members together for jubilation and family fun. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Kids enjoy festivities during the Freedom Festival Children's Parade, Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Provo. The kids parade brought thousands of family members together for jubilation and family fun. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Kids enjoy festivities during the Freedom Festival Children's Parade, Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Provo. The kids parade brought thousands of family members together for jubilation and family fun. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Children could come dressed as they were or as historical or fantastical characters — George Washington, patriotic fairies, colonial women — for the Freedom Festival Children’s Parade on Saturday morning.
There was no registration and participation was free and a couple thousand youngsters took part.
“We keep it as simple as possible for the kids,” said parade Co-Chairman Adam Robertson.
Between 2,000 to 3,000 kids typically participate in the parade, he said. Most had not arrived 30 minutes before the parade’s 10:30 a.m. start time.
“You have parents with large families who will get here as late as possible,” Timpview Band Director Jared Hearld said and chuckled.
The parade began at the Provo Memorial Park and went west on Center Street nearly half a mile to the Utah County complex on 200 East.
The Provo High School Band led out for the parade and the Timpview High Band was the caboose. Interspersed with the children, there were several mascots.
“We have the Orem Owlz, Spot the Dog, Cosmo, Coke the Bear, and of course, lots of families and children and Miss Provo,” Robertson said.
The Adventure Time Preschool kids were at the front of the line, having gotten to the park before Robertson who arrived at 8:30 a.m.
Founded in 1985, the preschool has nearly a 20-year tradition of participating in the parade.
“I just like to go out and do it,” said Rylee Ferran, 11, an Adventure Time alumnus. This was her eighth year and her brother’s fifth year in the parade.
“There are fun things in the parade, like marching with your friends, painting faces, and we get Popsicles at the end,” she said. Her brother, 6-year-old Quinton Ferran, said the Popsicles were a motivator.
Andy Shelton brought his three children to carry on a family tradition. Their yellow Labrador dog, 3-month-old Sundance, was there for moral support.
“My grandma was saying that she had been wanting to do this for a couple of years,” 9-year-old Keira Shelton said. “And so I came with my parents and my grandma got material to make the float, to put it together.”
According to grandmother Pam Shelton, her son, Andy, participated in the children’s parade with his cousin when they were about the same age as her grandchildren.
“I’m excited to march in the parade,” 5-year-old Cara Shelton said.
The Children’s Parade marks the first parade of the Freedom Festival in Provo and the last day of the Firecracker Softball Tournament. Other Freedom Festival events and more information on the celebration is available online at freedomfestival.org.