HAYDEN — When Ross Welburn came to North Idaho some 40 years ago, parades had little in the way of excitement.

There might be a logging truck rolling down the street, he recalled, or a fire engine, but not much music. 

That’s where Welburn comes in. 

The retired engineer, honored last year as Hayden’s Distinguished Veteran, is known for his appearances in local parades that now draw thousands of people. He drives a 1928 Ford Model A Phaeton and pulls a calliope; the instrument is a reproduction of one that was made in the 1920s. 

“I’ve been lucky,” Welburn said with a laugh. “I’ve got 10 grandkids, and there’s always some of them willing to ride with me.” 

When the Hayden Days parade comes down Government Way on Saturday morning, Welburn will be there, this time as grand marshal. 

“People often tell me that this is their favorite display in the whole parade,” said Welburn, who brings his antique car and calliope to about four parades each year. 

In addition to Hayden Days, Welburn is a staple in the Coeur d’Alene parades for the Fourth of July, the holiday lighting ceremony and St. Patrick’s Day. 

“That’s a fun one because it’s not as crowded,” he said. 

Welburn enlisted in the Navy in 1965 and began his career as an electronics technician at NAS Rheem Field in Imperial Beach, Calif., the nation’s largest helicopter base at the time. He received advanced training and lived in Japan while serving in the Navy. 

“I learned to speak a little Japanese,” he said, adding that the skill came in handy after he founded a business that he later sold to a Japanese company. 

By the age of 40, Welburn had retired to North Idaho. 

“People were always friendly,” he said. “I noticed it right away when I moved here.” 

Welburn has a passion for the calliope, an instrument that produces sound by sending steam or air through large whistles. The instrument is known for its use on riverboats and in circuses. 

“Circuses started using (the calliope) before radio,” Welburn said. “When they came to down, they wanted to get people excited. They wanted something loud, brightly voiced, with lots of harmonics.” 

Welburn’s calliope uses piano rolls, like a player piano, and has 10 songs on each roll. His instrument was made in the 1980s with modern parts. 

“They had it shipped out to good old Coeur d’Alene,” he said. 

The calliope still delights crowds, Welburn said, especially kids. 

“Their eyes are wide open,” he said. “They’re so curious about what this is. The surprise — the joy — that’s probably the most satisfying part.” 

The parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and will run along Government Way, starting at Hayden Avenue and ending at Honeysuckle Avenue. But there’s even more fun in store during Hayden Days, beginning Friday. 

The Hayden’s Got Talent Show is set for 12:45 to 3:15 p.m. Friday. The Kelly Hughes Band will perform at 5:30 p.m. in McIntire Family Park. 

The Hayden Days Car Show will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The Rhythm Dawgs will perform at 5:30 p.m.