The Fair Parade - 2011

We had a little vacation last week.  I also happened to be fair week in Allegan and fair week in Allegan just happens to get a little CRAZY!  We kick off the fun with the fair parade.  I know it sounds odd - "you have a parade...to celebrate the fair?"   Yes, yes we do.  And this year, the last number I saw was 131.  That's 131 entries.

Just so you know -

The Allegan County Fair

The Allegan County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in the state, also with one of the largest fair parades in the nation. The county fair plays host to all sorts of events that the family is sure to love, including concerts, classic carnvial games and rides, a demolition derby, rodeo and so much more.

(Did you see that? "One of the largest fair parades in the NATION!"

And here come the Firetrucks!  Bruce is in the lead.

Followed by Robert in the new pumper.

And a whole crew of kids on the old pumper.  Including Jacob's best little friend.  Jacob had the opportunity to ride and he said "No.  No thank you."

The rescue truck.

Remember this guy?  It's our old friend #10 from Hopkins and the July 4th parade.

How about the guy on your right?  He's firefighter Tim from breakfast at Daddy's work.

And what parade wouldn't be complete without the "Allegan Ambulance"?

We forgot Jacob's ear protection.  Though my boy loves Fire Engines, police cars, honks, and sirens and he can stand in a closed fire station to listen to them - at parades, this is what happens.  Now when our firefighter friends saw this and Jacob crying they were very concerned.  Our Chief stopped his truck, many of the firefighters mouthed the words 'what's wrong with Jacob?', 'Is Jacob okay?', etc.  We did our best to let them know he was okay but, they were worried.

These were/are my favorite.  You see, my grandpa, Edna's dad raised Belgian Draft Horses and they are just beautiful.  I remember standing up on the fence at the farm when my grandpa would let them out and the thunder from their hooves would about shake me off of that fence.  I'll never forget it.

Jacob's friend "Little Dude".  He's the plumber that the city contracted to connect the new sewer system last summer, I think.  He and Jacob made fast friends.

Every fair parade needs a "Miss Manure".

And her entourage.

Huge - just huge!  Have you ever seen a six door dually Chevy pickup?  Look at these trucks in relation to the people.   It's HUGE!



Did I mention that the fair parade was larger than our Memorial Day Parade and the 2 July 4 parades that we were in COMBINED!  Laugh at my fair parade....go ahead!