Everyone Loves a Parade

Really - who doesn't love a parade?

Mackinac Island's annual Lilac Festival always ends with a grand parade and that parade is always led by Don "Duck" Andress, a direct descendant of Chief Mackinac.

Interpreters from Fort Mackinac also participate, fife and drums playing all the way.

Several service organizations are represented, including future service dogs (the puppies are so cute!) and Greythounds of Eastern Michigan , a greyhound rescue group. Greyhounds are typically such elegant dogs, but they're willing to play dress up to be in the parade:

The theme of this year's parade was "Board Games" and many old favorites made an appearance.

Scrabble:

Jeopardy:


Turtlopoly (AKA Monopoly):

And Battleship:


Anyone who's been following Island politics will see the irony of that entry!

No parade is complete without marching bands:

Parades always seem to attract queens too and we had a Cherry Queen, a Trout Queen, an Alpine Queen, out own Lilac Queen and also the "Northern Michigan Beach Queens":

And the King too!

It seems like most parades have a t least a few clowns:

This is "Dynamite the Clown" and I remember seeing him in parades when I was a kid (a long time ago - how old is he?)

This is Mackinac after all, so there has to be bikes:

And more importantly, horses!

See what you missed!