Every year we attend Yukon’s annual Czech Day Parade, and every year I write about it. If you need the back story on what the Czech Festival is or why my town has one, check out that link.

As a kid, I remember three distinct phases in regards to the Czech Festival: attending it, participating in it, and eventually hanging out in it. Back then, you either went to gather candy watch the parade, march in the parade, or hang out at the makeshift fair afterwards with your friends. My kids have made the transition from watching the parade to participating in it.

Morgan, again this year, participated in the Daisy float. Susan marched behind.

Mason and I, on the other hand, got to ride in the front seat of my friend Andy’s fire truck!

I’m not a fireman, but I waved at every kid as if I were. Mason waved, too. Here’s Andy, posing in front of his fire engine after the parade.

I took several dozen pictures of the parade, but this was by far my favorite guy. I referred to him loudly as “Cousin Blippy” and told the people around me that I haven’t seen my cousin in years and have been wondering what he has been up to! Good ol’ Cousin Blippy!

For the second half of the parade, we found our good friend Patty and stood by her. Patty is crazy and had her picture taken with many random people from the parade … like this guy.

Once again, a good time was had by all. After the parade ended, the four of us headed over to the food area where Susan and I split a giant turkey leg (classic Czech food, don’tcha know!), Mason had a giant corn dog, and Morgan had a roasted corn on the cob.

You can see the rest of the pictures I took in this photo gallery.