SPIRIT LAKE — All down 10th Street, baking under the late-summer sun, golden pom poms glimmered, horns blared, drums pounded and laughing children reached their hands out for candy as it rained down from passing floats. 

“T-I-G-E-R-S!” cheerleaders chanted, to applause. “Tigers! Tigers! We’re the best!”

More than 400 people of all ages lined 10th Street late Friday afternoon for Timberlake’s first homecoming parade. 

“For our kids and our community, it’s awesome,” said a beaming Susan Woodrum. “We wanted to get the high school and the community engaged.” 

Woodrum is a member of the Spirit Lake Community Coalition, a volunteer group dedicated to supporting a vibrant community in the city. The group has collected feedback from hundreds of Spirit Lake residents, from kids to adults, asking what they love about their community and what they think it needs. 

The message was clear. 

“The community wants more activities that bring people together,” said volunteer Liz Krise. 

Youth and adults expressed a desire for events that connect Timberlake High School with the wider community. 

“What they wanted was a homecoming parade,” said Mona Stafford. 

They sure got one. With 24 local groups taking part — including Timberlake middle school and high school students, Spirit Lake firefighters and police officers, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and many others — it took a full seven minutes for the entire parade to wind past. 

Alician Gonzales, Spirit Lake Parks and Recreation coordinator, said the parade was highly anticipated. Even so, the turnout was bigger than expected. 

“We have a lot of team pride here,” she said. 

Indeed, all along the parade route, dark blue flags emblazoned with Timberlake tigers waved in the warm wind. Small children looked up in excitement at the older students from the schools they’ll someday attend: cheerleaders, football players, the marching band, homecoming royalty. 

Woodrum said that’s what the homecoming parade was all about — the youth of Spirit Lake. They’re already eager for next year. 

“It’s a tradition the kids can look forward to,” she said. 

With the first homecoming parade a resounding success, volunteers with the Spirit Lake Community Coalition said the community can look forward to more opportunities to come together, get to know their neighbors and celebrate their home. 

“We’re a wonderful, big, small community,” Woodrum said with a smile. 

    Musicians play a fight song during the Timberlake homecoming parade.
  

    The Timberlake High School mascot takes in the applause from the crowd lining 10th Street in Spirit Lake.
  

    A Timberlake High School cheerleader marches in the homecoming parade.