Hundreds of spectators at Summer Days parade

Chris McGarry Aug 5, 2023 12:22 PM
Flyin' Bob Palmer on his penny-farthing bike leads the Flyin' Bob's Circus Camp entry in Friday's Summer Days parade. The 90-minute long parade had about 50 floats. Image - Rob McKInley▲
The Lac La Biche RMCP lead the parade along the lakeshore. Thousands of people lined the parade route on Friday morning to kick-off the Summer Days weekend. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Senior Citizen of the Year Donalda Toutant waves as her son Vic drives the parade car. Image - Rob McKInley▲
The Northern Beat Dance Academy kicked it up with their parade entry. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Citizen of the Year Pat Boon-Anderson waves to the parade watchers from a car-load of friends and family. Image - Rob McKInley▲
The water bomber demonstration from the crews based at the Lac La Biche Air Tanker Base has been a tradition of the August long weekend for decades.▲
Mac Simmonds with the Alberta Wildfire Service hands some goodies to Lana Gladue and Zailey Spence. Chris McGarry photo. ▲
A sea of balloons on the Contractor Direct float Image - Rob McKInley▲
Lac La Biche County Fire Rescue Services were a loud part of the parade, with deputy fire chief Chris Newhook at the wheel ... and the horn. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Lac La Biche Summer Days parade coordinator Karen Lewiski points out the parade route to Lac La Biche County Mayor Paul Reutov. Image - Rob McKInley▲
The members of Northern Beat Dance Academy put on a show for the large crowd who turned out to watch the parade. Chris McGarry photo.▲
The Lac La Biche Summer Days parade also featured a handful of classic cars and old-fashioned tractors whose owners proudly showed off to the crowds during the event. Chris McGarry photos. ▲
Sue LaPierre entertained the crowds with a stunning twirling demonstration. Chris McGarry photo.▲
Barbie, who recently starred in a blockbuster film, made an appearance at the parade on what was undoubtedly one of the most elaborate and colorful floats in the entire show. Chris McGarry photo. ▲
Amanee Tarrabain joined a few others on the Tarrabain Dodge float tossing candy and good cheer to the throngs of youngsters who lined the parade route along 100 Street. Chris McGarry photo.▲
Alberta Wildfire Service had a noticeable presence in the parade, especially the mascot. Chris McGarry photo. ▲
Lac La Biche Protective Service members on parade ... at the parade. Image - Rob McKInley▲
A long line of floats. Image - Rob McKInley▲
The Lac La Biche Transport parade entry had some humourous self-promotion. Image - Rob McKInley▲
A green machine. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Lots of kids and families lined the parade route, watching the floats and catching the candies. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Flyin' Bob stops to take a picture of his Lac La Biche circus camp students. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Barbie and Ken on the float pulled by the folks at Al's Contracting. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Taking a stilt break. Members of the Flying Bob's Circus Camp rest their long legs before Friday's parade. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Friday's Farmers Market at the agricom grounds was a busy one. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Friday's Farmers Market at the agricom grounds was a busy one. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Stop the trains. Kinsmen members Al Robertson and Al Bertschi have some fun for a photo a the end of the parade at the Beaver Hill Road rail crossing. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Was it a good parade? Yes. Just ax this guy. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Lac la Biche Kinsmen members Al Bertschi and Al Robertson were part of a 12-person marshalling team along the parade route. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Lots of activities were displayed at the Lac La Biche County float. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Holy cow. That's a good float. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Vintage and antique vehicles were part of Friday's parade. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Drew Andrashewski waves to the parade-watchers from his seat on the Full Tilt float Image - Rob McKInley▲
Lina Yadlowski waves from the driver's seat of the Multitest float. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Lac La Biche County staff take a photo of the Flying Bob's Circus Camp members before the parade. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Riding in Style. The mayor and his wife ride in their Porsche in the parade. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Lac La Biche Kinsmen members were parade marshals on Friday, helping to size up the event. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Lac La Biche Transport's Gerald Wowk speaks with one of the parade marshals at the start of Friday's Summer Days parade. Image - Rob McKInley▲
A few more bright colours are added to the Lac La Biche County Fun Van before the parade. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Lac La Biche Legion member Cliff Chamberlin waves from inside the war-era panel truck that is also an outdoor display at the Lac La Biche Royal Canadian Legion McGrane Branch 28. Image - Rob McKInley▲
The Heritage Centre was busy before Friday's parade with the Lac La Biche Heritage Society's first of two pancake breakfasts on the weekend. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Some balloon additions in the pre-parade preparation at the Contractor Direct float Image - Rob McKInley▲
Mascot Bertie Beaver gets a hi-5 for his 65th birthday before rolling onto the parade route. Image - Rob McKInley▲
Front row seats ... and a viewing area all across the lakeshore ... were available for the water bomber demonstration following Friday's parade.▲
The Barbie float, pulled by the folks at Al's Contracting, had lots of young parade-watchers excited.▲
This little horse and rider made a big impact with the crowds at the Summer Days parade on Friday.▲

LAC LA BICHE - On Friday morning, people showed up in droves under sunny skies for the annual Lac La Biche Summer Days parade.

The parade, which has been a staple of the community's annual August long weekend celebration event for six decades, had a somewhat different route this year due to the ongoing construction and expansion projects taking place in the downtown core and around the Lac La Biche Recreation Grounds.

Led by an RCMP escort, the procession began near St. Catherine’s Catholic Church before moving down Churchill Drive, then turning north on 100 Street for two full blocks before making a left turn onto Main Street. Organizers say more than three dozen entries were in the parade, that stretched for a little over a kilometre.

The 2023 Lac La Biche Summer Days parade featured a variety of floats representing local businesses, organizations, and sport and leisure groups from across the area.  

Images: Rob McKInley & Chris McGarry.

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