Valley turns out for a holiday party

WASILLA — Hordes of candy-seeking children and (mostly) patient parents lined the streets of Wasilla Monday for the annual July 4th parade.

Platoons of cheerleaders and veterans joined Darth Vader and a few storm troopers as they paraded down Nelson Avenue, Main Street and Swanson Avenue while throngs of cheering residents lined the streets. The parade was the one of a series of events planned in celebration of the nation’s 240th anniversary.

For some, the date coincided with other milestones. The weekend marked the second year in Palmer for Byron Allen, a former Anchorage resident who said he was happy just to gather with others for the parade.

“I’m liking just having the freedom to come and gather with other people without any fear,” he said.

For others, the motivations were straightforward.

“It’s the celebration of our independence,” said Pat Mathias, who waited along the edge of a crowd for the Grape Tap’s wine-themed float to drift by.

Mathias couldn’t avoid some wistfulness, even though she looked forward to a picnic put on by her employer a little later in the day. Mathias was doing prep work for the restaurant and ducked out quickly to watch the float.

“Forty years ago I was sailing up the Hudson River with the tall ships for Fourth of July,” she said. “This year I’m working.”

Just then, the passing Grape Tap float passed.

“Yay! Grapes,” she cheered.

The election year entries for the parade also drew numerous candidate campaign floats, some elaborate and some relatively no-frills, which gave Kelly Welton pause. She came to the parade with husband Travis and children Seamus, 6, and Raleigh, 5. It was Seamus and Raleigh’s first parade.

“I think it (the Fourth) means a lot more than a bunch of political people walking in the parade with signs,” she said. “I think they could have done better. I was a little disappointed. I thought it was more about just celebration with family.”

Nevertheless, Welton said she enjoyed numerous other elements of the parade, ranging from cheerleaders to antique cars and tractors.

“It’s great,” she said. “I love the turnout. Just being with your family, loving life.”

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.