Rathdrum Days Parade: 'Quintessential Small Town, U.S.A.'

CAROLYN BOSTICK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 3 months AGO

The North Idaho Sparklers dance team kept in formation as they made their way down Main Street during the Rathdrum Days Parade.

Sarah Polk got the dance party started at the top of the Rathdrum Days Parade Saturday morning. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

Children watch as as the Rathdrum Days Parade goes by on Main Street.(CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

Kerri Thoreson returned for her third year as parade announcer for the Rathdrum Days Parade. “I love that it's a Main Street parade. It’s just quintessential Small Town, U.S.A.,” Thoreson said. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

A woman riding a horse bedecked in glitter delighted crowds during Rathdrum Days Parade on Main Street. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

The Hauser Lake Fire and Rescue truck helped everyone cool down during the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

American flags are passed out to children in the crowd during the Rathdrum Days Parade on Main Street. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

A man dressed as a knight wielding a sword and shield on a float for 4U Ready Mix of Post Falls made up some of the spectacle during the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

The American Heritage Girls made their way down Main Street Saturday during the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

The color guard of Manuel Schneidmiller Post 154 of the American Legion leads the parade. From left, U.S. flag, POW/MIA flag, State of Idaho flag, Post 154 flag. (JIM MOWREADER/Press)

A woman on a three wheeler goes down Main Street wearing red, white, and blue during the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

Descendants of the Boston Tea Party were present on the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Boston Tea Party commemorative float during the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

The Bookmobile made an appearance as part of the Rathdrum Days Parade Saturday on Main Street. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

A drummer marches down Main Street during the Rathdrum Days Parade as part of the Albeni Falls Pipes and Drums of North Idaho.(CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

Mayor Vic Holmes takes a break form throwing candy to speak to the crowd during the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

Gymnasts from GEMS Athletic Center do cartwheels and walk on their hands during the Rathdrum Days Parade.( CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

An individual dressed as Master Chief holds the American flag during the Rathdrum Days celebration Saturday.(CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

A man lifts a girl up while dancing in the street during the Rathdrum Days Parade.(CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

Aaron Sigmund was amazed to see a tank show up as part of this year's Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

Members of the 4-H Panhandle Pioneers club makes their way down Main Street in a wagon pulled by horses during the Rathdrum Days Parade. (CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press)

A team of draft horses pull the Panhandle Pioneers 4-H club’s wagon at the Rathdrum Days Parade. (JIM MOWREADER/Press)

Cheerleaders from Lakeland school district hype up the crowd during the Rathdrum Days Parade.

Students from Technique Gymnastics get in formation during the Rathdrum Days Parade on Main Street.

Parade Grand Marshal and Fire Chief Pat Riley and Smokey the Bear make their way down Main Street in an old Rathdrum fire truck.

Cub Scouts Troop 216 hold up a banner with their group name and the mantra "do your best" during the Rathdrum Days Parade.

A House Lake fire truck drives down Main Street as part of the Rathdrum Days Parade.

A House Lake fire truck sprays spectators at the Rathdrum Days Parade.

A dog from the Companions Animal Center surveys the crowd from a float at the Rathdrum Days Parade. A sign that says "I want my own family" is posted on the vehicle to raise awareness about pet adoptions.

Cecil, NIC's cardinal mascot makes an appearance at the Rathdrum Days Parade on Main Street.

Idaho Central Credit Union passes out candy to kids during the Rathdrum Days Parade.

RATHDRUM — Dancing on the street heralded the beginning of Saturday morning's Rathdrum Days Parade.

As Miley Cyrus and Bruno Mars music resounded from speakers, North Idaho's own Sarah Polk led impromptu dancers of all ages in a joyful opening to the event-packed day.

Polk, a former Miss Idaho Teen USA, now lives in Phoenix, but her excitement to be back home was palpable. She helped hype up the crowd as the parade announcer, the inimitable Kerri Thoreson, added humor and the festive floats began drifting by.

“As many people are watching this parade as are in this parade,” said Thoreson, Post Falls City Council president, local journalistic mainstay and Polk's proud mother.

Later, Thoreson spoke about why she looks forward to being a part of Rathdrum Days.

“I love that it's a Main Street parade," she said. "It’s just quintessential Small Town, U.S.A.”

Longtime residents of Rathdrum were surprised by some of the sights that appeared as part of the parade. Two individuals dressed as Master Chief and a knight wielding a sword and shield on a float for 4U Ready Mix of Post Falls made up some of the spectacles.

But, for Aaron Sigmund, one highlight stood out.

“We go every year, but I couldn’t believe that there was a tank in the parade this time,” Sigmund said.

Glitter-adorned goats and horses added sparkle to the proceedings, but the star of the show wound up being the Hauser Lake Fire and Rescue truck that periodically sprayed spectators to cool them down at some point as watched 60 parade groups pass.

Savanna Bradetich is convinced her family gets the best seats in the house to keep up with any antics that occur during the parade.

“We always sit by the announcer’s booth," Bradetich said.

By the end of the parade, her three girls had an impressive bag of candy amassed throughout the morning.

Seeing the festivities alongside her friends and neighbors always gives Bradetich a source of pride.

“It’s a place where everybody comes together and puts forth for the community,” she said.

Mayor Vic Holmes acknowledged many memories of Rathdrum Days have blurred together over 19 years of parades, but what stood out to him Saturday was the way that children interacted with him and others as they gave away candy to the crowd.

“The kids were enthused, but quite polite, thanking and actually sharing the candy that was thrown," Holmes said. "I'm proud of the parents and the families they are raising in our little town.

"Great citizens make great cities, and we have them.”