SPIRIT LAKE — Marty Radenz said he’s just got to be different.

Monday morning, he was.

The Athol man wore a pink helmet, a blue shirt with white stars, and red, white and blue socks as he biked his way through the Spirit Lake Labor Day parade.

“Every parade needs a clown,” he said as he stopped to hand out candy.

Radenz has been part of the annual parade on and off for 25 years. He said it’s how he supports the community — in his unique style.

“It’s all about the kids coming out to the parade and having a good time,” he said.

Billed as the world’s second-shortest parade, it lived up to its name.

It took about five minutes, at best, for the handful of entries to cover the two-block route on Maine and Fourth.

The parade featured wagons, riding lawnmowers, a mini-logging truck, a decorated car and plenty of candy for the crowd of about 50 people.

Gary Stairs, commander of VFW Post 1473, and Terrie Hauck, quarter-master, led the way with flags, but had to fight strong gusts.

“It was kind of hard to hang on to the flagpole, I’ll tell you what,” Stairs said.

“It was horrible in the wind,” Hauck said. “You were lucky I didn’t fall over and bonk you.”

Still, she was delighted to be there.

“This has been happening here since I was a kid,” Hauck said. “Gotta carry on tradition.”

Stairs loves sharing his pride and patriotism.

“The good feeling about it is, the people like to see us veterans participating in the parade,” he said.

Leigh Freeman followed in the coveted second slot with her small equine friend named Easter.

“With all the wind, I’m really happy we had as many people come here as we did,” she said.

Michael Baslington of Athol drove a mini-logging truck through the Labor Day celebration. It took four months to build it, he said.

“I had nothing better to do,” he said, laughing.

But it was important for him to be there, display flags, and show love of country.

“We’re free here in America,” Baslington said.

Asher Cork, a youth, called it a “freaking awesome” parade.


“I loved the candy,” he said.

Shortly afterward at City Park, people waited in line for traditional free corn on the cob, served up by the VFW Post 1473 and donated by Miller’s Harvest Foods.

They had nearly 1,000 ears to give away.

“Ten minutes for another batch,” said Mike Barham, post senior vice commander, to the adults and kids in line.

He said they do a lot for the community and veterans, including Sunday’s car show in the park, buying and donating firewood and building ramps.

Volunteer Loretta Jarvis was handing out the corn. She said that each year, she and husband Charles provide security for the park overnight.

They look forward to this Labor Day celebration in their town.

“It’s a good get-together for us, for everyone,” she said. “It’s just awesome.”