Burlington's "Sound of Music" Parade - June 19, 2011
This year marked the 32nd year of Burlington's four-day Sound of Music festival, of which Saturday's Parade is one of the highlights (always the third Saturday of June). Literally hundreds of volunteers and participants help to make it all possible year after year, and we've been fortunate to be a part of it since 2008. It was a beautiful hot and sunny day, with some humidity, and as usual the entire parade route was very well attended and enthusiastically supported by the community.
Despite some poor communications, John Hido at Discovery Collision Inc. came through for us again this year, meeting us with Discovery's flat bed truck at the loading sight well before the parade began, and graciously driving us along the parade route. John was also kind enough to photograph all of the headshots seen below.
Checomick brought the straw bales for us to sit on, plus a couple of buffalo hides, while others brought blankets and hides to cover the straw. Soon the banners were up and the On-Gwe-Ho-Way members had changed the flat bed into a quaint-looking parade float.
Hunter (Greg), Sable (Dinah), Checomick (Chris), Rainbow Weaver (Heather), Dark Pool (Lynn), Dale (Big Fish), and Michelle (Gerry) were all in attendance, enthusiastically drumming and singing for the duration of the parade (and then some). Things got a little sentimental before the parade began, when Sable was gifted a hand-woven sash from Rainbow Weaver, in colours that matched perfectly to Sable's shirt.
On-Gwe-Ho-Way was not the only group participating this year that sings as they drum; Burlington's "Rock This Way" School of Rock had a Band-on-a-float of young people singing and playing guitars and drums to rock classics. It was hard not to sing along as they went by!
We were fortunate this year that the "Niagara Maid of the Mist" float ended up ahead of us (after fixing some engine trouble), and a lone Shriner car ended up behind us (also after fixing some engine trouble), so we did not have a big pipe band or marching band to drown us out, as we have had in past years. A big thank you to the organizers (and Creator) for making that possible!
This year, John's wife, Margaret, also came along for the ride, and we were all able to share dinner with them afterwards, at Montana's. Thanks John -- it wouldn't be the same without your generous help!
Sable receiving a new sash from Rainbow Weaver
