Lets go to the parade: My hometown has a festival the last weekend in September every year called Oktemberfest. This has been going for some 25 years or so. Full disclosure statement:...

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

My hometown has a festival the last weekend in September every year called Oktemberfest. This has been going for some 25 years or so. Full disclosure statement: my wife used to be the director of the parade and I helped out with directing some of the entries to their assigned start point and controlling traffic. We haven't done anything with it in the last 4-5 years though. Here are some highlights from this years parade.

Here it comes

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anxiously waiting

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Little Mr. and Miss Oktemberfest

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My friend Glen (in uniform) marching with the Vietnam veterans group. They received applause the length of the parade route.

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what's a parade without horses?

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gotta have a few old cars

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this one isn't quite original

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From the left: my granddaughter Caylee, her friend Jayden, my granddaughter Caitlin, her friend James - all waiting for candy to be thrown.

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You have to have Shriners in an official parade.

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Shriners love little cars of all kinds

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The tallest entrie

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and near the end of the parade - a llama

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Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

And a good time was had by all, looks like a great parade and good shots.

ddetloff Loc: Fair Haven, MI

Whuff wrote:

My hometown has a festival the last weekend in September every year called Oktemberfest. This has been going for some 25 years or so. Full disclosure statement: my wife used to be the director of the parade and I helped out with directing some of the entries to their assigned start point and controlling traffic. We haven't done anything with it in the last 4-5 years though. Here are some highlights from this years parade.

Nice photos. Small town parades like this are the best.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Whuff wrote:

My hometown has a festival the last weekend in September every year called Oktemberfest. This has been going for some 25 years or so. Full disclosure statement: my wife used to be the director of the parade and I helped out with directing some of the entries to their assigned start point and controlling traffic. We haven't done anything with it in the last 4-5 years though. Here are some highlights from this years parade.

Nice shots, nice tradition.

Tom DePuy Loc: Waxhaw, N.C.

thanks for taking me to your parade....Tom

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Doddy wrote:

And a good time was had by all, looks like a great parade and good shots.

Yes, everyone did have a good time.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

ddetloff wrote:

Nice photos. Small town parades like this are the best.

This one's pretty large - it lasts 2 hours.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

jerryc41 wrote:

Nice shots, nice tradition.

Thanks for looking Jerry. 99% of the time the weather is beautiful, just like today was. I'm sure the director was worried though, there was a thunder shower 1 1/2 hours prior to the start.

Walt

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Tom DePuy wrote:

thanks for taking me to your parade....Tom

Thanks for stopping in.

Walt

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Whuff wrote:

My hometown has a festival the last weekend in September every year called Oktemberfest. This has been going for some 25 years or so. Full disclosure statement: my wife used to be the director of the parade and I helped out with directing some of the entries to their assigned start point and controlling traffic. We haven't done anything with it in the last 4-5 years though. Here are some highlights from this years parade.

Nice set. Looks like you had a nice day.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

Thanks Erich, it was a good morning. I even met a classmate from 41 years ago that I never knew. He saw me taking photos and asked me to take some of his parents who were riding in the parade. He just had a phone camera. We got to talking and found out we were in the same high school class.

Walt

bee7474 Loc: Selah, Wa

Nice shots, really admire your friend Glen still able to fit into his uniform. My hat is off to him. Thank you and thank Glen for keeping us safe.

achesley Loc: SW Louisiana

Love the shots. Love doing parade pictures. So many good street shots.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

bee7474 wrote:

Nice shots, really admire your friend Glen still able to fit into his uniform. My hat is off to him. Thank you and thank Glen for keeping us safe.

I knew Glen was going to be in it and found out while watching them pass that a number of other guys marching with him were acquaintances and former co-workers. Most of the vets who were in Nam rarely talk about it. One of my closest friends just recently began to talk a little bit about it and I came to find out he has 2 purple hearts from his time there.

Walt