Friday, January 23, 2026
14.0°F

Hats off to Hayden Days

HAILEY HILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months AGO
by HAILEY HILL
Staff Writer | July 27, 2025 1:08 AM

HAYDEN — While Connie and Glen Lussier enjoyed the procession that cruised down Government Way on Saturday morning, their true joy came from watching their two granddaughters take it all in.

“Love the looks on their faces,” Glen said.

Maddie, 6, and Freya, 2, waved to each parade entry as they collected candy tossed by local businesses and organizations.

They donned pink firefighter hats given to them by Northern Lake Fire District and were especially thrilled to see Smokey Bear, a crowd favorite.  

“We’re just having fun, making memories,” Connie said.  

Like the couple and their granddaughters, hundreds of people came out to enjoy the yearly Hayden Days parade as it traveled from Hayden Avenue to Honeysuckle Avenue.  

The parade is a highlight of the annual Hayden Days celebration. Festivities also included a pancake breakfast hosted by NLFD, a classic car show and the "Hayden's Got Talent" competition. Live music and local vendors additionally made McIntire Family Park a community hotspot to gather on both Friday and Saturday.

This year also marked the city's 70th birthday.

The parade started off with a flyover by No Limits Aviation. Boy Scout Troop 911 led the procession as flag bearers, just before grand marshal Robert Martin cruised by in the back of a convertible.  

Mayor Alan Davis and other city officials also waved to the crowds and tossed candy to expectant children under the summer sun.  

Spotlight Studios and Technique Gymnastics both put on impressive performances, with Spotlight pulling off show-stopping aerial displays as they made their way down the route.  

Though every entry represented a part of Hayden’s tight-knit community, the crowd erupted in clapping and cheering as NLFD engines and first responders brought up the tail end of the procession.  

Many could be heard shouting “thank you” as the firefighters went by.  

“They’re heroes in this community,” said resident Catherine Morten. 

    Tour CDA delighted the crowds with bubble blowers as they rode on cartoon animals during Saturday's Hayden Days Parade.
 
 
    Sasquatch cruised in the Hayden Days Parade on an electric scooter Saturday.
 
 


    Christmas came early for the Hayden Chamber of Commerce on Saturday as they advertised their yearly European Christmas Market, which takes place in December.
 
 
    Maddie, 6, and Freya, 2, smile from the sidelines of Saturday's parade along Government Way in Hayden.
 
 
    Grand marshal and 2024 Distinguished Veteran of the Year Robert Martin waves during the Hayden Days Parade on Saturday.
 
 


    Smokey Bear was a crowd favorite for children and adults alike as he rode with the Idaho Department of Lands on Saturday.
 
 
    Gymnasts from Spotlight Studio strike a pose while performing aerial stunts during the Hayden Days Parade on Saturday.
 
 

ARTICLES BY HAILEY HILL

Hayden chamber marks 25 years
January 23, 2026 1:09 a.m.

Hayden chamber marks 25 years

Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn named Business of the Year

When Andrea Fulks talks about growing the Hayden Chamber of Commerce’s membership, she makes a point to avoid certain words. “I never say you should ‘join,’” the chamber president and CEO said. “I say that you belong in this family.”

NIBCA celebrates leadership, growth
January 22, 2026 1:09 a.m.

NIBCA celebrates leadership, growth

NIBCA celebrates leadership, growth

The first time Jessica Cargile attended a North Idaho Building Contractors Association meeting, she couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. That feeling returned for only a moment before she was sworn in as NIBCA’s president for 2026.

Coeur d'Alene chamber grows to nearly 1,000 members as it continues to evolve
January 21, 2026 1:07 a.m.

Coeur d'Alene chamber grows to nearly 1,000 members as it continues to evolve

Coeur d'Alene chamber grows to nearly 1,000 members as it continues to evolve

A sepia-toned photograph of about 30 businessmen hangs in the office of Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber’s President and CEO, Linda Coppess. Though dressed in the fashion of decades past, the men gathered for a purpose that has endured: uplifting area businesses through the Chamber. The photo is a reminder of the Chamber’s 114 years of history, Coppess said in her address to nearly 200 attendees at Tuesday morning’s Breakfast Connect event.