LOWER LAKE >> It’s called the Lower Lake Daze Parade but if it was up to the crowd — especially the children — it might be re-named the Goofy Gonzo Volunteer Fire Brigade Parade of Mayhem.
That’s because year after year, the Keystone Kops of local volunteer firefighters steal the show with their antics that usually end up with a lot of people getting wet and loving it.
About 2,500 people lined the parade route down Main Street in Lower Lake Sunday for the annual parade amid temperatures near 90 degrees. The parade featured equestrian and antique auto entries along with a number of candidates for Board of Supervisors and a sizable contingent from the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign.
Becky Wheeler of Cobb has been coming to the parade for at least 20 years and said she enjoys its diversity.
“It’s grown a lot over the years,” she said, sitting in a shady spot on her sidewalk lawn chair with her family. “It’s different every year. Sometimes the emphasis is on antique cars, sometimes the animals. But the kids, they always come to see the firemen.”
The volunteers from the Lake County Fire Protection District (LCFPD) are always a crowd favorite as they rode and walked alongside their fire engines, including a 1929 Model A water truck — named the Funny Wagon — in red long johns, usually soaking wet, and with a seemingly unending supply of water.
The firefighters put on quite a show along the parade route using any means possible — be it fire hose, water bucket or super-soaker water guns — managing to get themselves and much of the crowd wet, a welcome distraction from the heat.
Monique and Kent Kubach drove from Galt for the parade. They enjoy the wackiness of the volunteer firemen and the reactions of delight they elicit from the spectators.
“We come here every year,” Monique Kubach said. “More years than we want to count. We like it because it has a nice, family atmosphere. We enjoy watching people have fun.”
Added her husband, “Everyone gets along here. We like that.”
This was the first time at the parade for Kyle Price of Napa, who drove up just for the festivities. After the parade, he planned to hit a local bar and then the barbecue.
“It’s nice up here,” he said. “This is like a mini vacation for me.”
Like many others, Hidden Valley Lake resident Rachel Perdew came to see the volunteer firefighters.
“I love to see them run around in their underwear,” she said. “I come to see them every year.”
Debra Klinkefus of Lower Lake has a son on the high school football team who marched in the parade with his teammates.
“I’ve been here 30 years and I love coming to the parade because I meet a lot of my friends here,” she said. “I’m always running into someone I haven’t seen in awhile.”
Guy Boyd, 15, of Clearlake can boast about something not many others can: “I’ve been to every parade in my whole life.”
He described his parade experience as “pretty cool” and to no surprise, he added, “The firemen are the best part.”
Lower Lake High School students and other local youth were well represented in the parade with school athletes and band marching the route along with members of the Special Olympics on their own float, a contingent from the Future Farmers of America and Boy Scout Troop 44 from Clearlake. Other youth groups marching included the Punishers wrestling team and the Konocti Klogging Kids.
And being the Memorial Day weekend, the colors of America — red, white and blue — and two symbols — stars and stripes — were displayed throughout the parade route and Lower Lake, including on lots of U.S. flags, bunting and banners.
The after-parade barbecue at Russell Rustici Lower Lake County Park featured chicken, ribs, cole slaw, beans, ice cream and hot dogs or Polish dogs with various condiments. The family event also featured an assortment of vendors, political candidate booths and lots of music.
