Tara Sprickerhoff
Tribune Staff Writer
This year’s Daybreak Rotary Stampede Parade honorary marshal Sandy Fehr will be wearing something different than the traditional cowboy hat.
The owner of Wiseowl Toys plans on keeping to the spirit of this year’s parade theme — Fun N’ Games — by wearing a pink princess hat with a long flowing veil out the back as she heads the parade.
She was chosen to head the parade because her and her husband’s toy store is “the fun and games store in town,” she said.
She’ll be running back and forth after the parade between her duties as parade marshal during the parade and at the Stampede later that day, as well as helping her staff run children’s activities at the street party.
“I’m somewhat overwhelmed, but I’m totally honoured” she said.
Parade organizers want people to “take the theme, think about how it applies to each group and go with that,” said Erik Zwiers, one of five parade marshals organizing the parade this year. “Just play with it.”
The parade this year will start at 10 a.m. with contestants assembling at 7 a.m.
The parade route will be the same as last year, travelling down Fourth from Proctor Street, turning left on Borland until Boitanio Mall and then heading straight down Oliver until it turns right on First Avenue, ending on the corner of Proctor and First.
Prizes will be given out in equine, float, band, youth, automotive and mascot categories, with $500 going to the best theme entry.
New this year will be a $250 prize for the best dressed animal, excluding horses.
“We wanted to try something different and see if people wanted to bring some of their pets along,” said Zwiers. “We are hoping that people can have some fun with it.”
Right now there are only about 20 entries in the parade so far, but Zwiers said they’re just starting to “roll in” now.
“We usually end up with 100 to 120 entries every year,” he said. Those interested in putting an entry into the parade can pick up registration forms at Papyrus Printing or at the WIlliams Lake Tourism Discovery Centre, as well as download them from the parade’s website: www.stampedeparade.com.
Those who are interested in volunteering are asked to call Nancy Gail at the Child Development Centre.