MATTAWA — The Mattawa CommUnity Day parades are still more than a month away, but organizers Dana Fox and Maggie Celaya are urging organizations, businesses and individuals to register promptly.

Early registration helps the organizers review and approve the entries and develop the best line-up to present the entries. One thing for certain this year, on July 30, is that the kiddie parade will be switched from Friday evening to 10:30 Saturday morning. The grand parade will follow immediately.

The deadline for parade entries is Friday, July 22, by 4 p.m. The entries will be reviewed and organized the week leading up to MCD. Both parades will begin at Wahluke High School and end at Hund Memorial Park.

Just about any idea can be a parade entry. Last year’s grand prize winner was a porta-potty train entered by Think Tank. It was innovative, smartly put together and made the audience laugh.

Maybe you can come up with a similar idea at your place of business. Some neighbors may think you’re crazy, but crazier is better some times.

The MCD has changed hands. Celaya was the main organizer for several years. This year it was passed on to the Mattawa Area Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of getting more volunteers involved.