By Terra Avilla
There is nothing more Lassen County than the Lassen County Fair Parade.
We have three parades during the year in Susanville, but the Lassen County Fair Parade is my favorite.
This past Saturday, I watched as our community lined the streets of the entire city to watch the parade.
A pretty impressive feat and, although I was sweating in my uniform, I quickly stopped my grumbling when I saw six and seven year-olds walking near the float for the duration of the parade.
I love this event so much for what it stands for. I cannot count the number of America flags I saw pass my intersection. More ever, I loved seeing the familiar faces in the parade as they waved hello to my family.
“Ah! There goes my neighbor!”
“There is my favorite deputy!”
“How cool! I did not know the sweet girl who sold me Girl Scout cookies is also in 4H! There she is representing them by their float!”
Peach yells for the “princesses” as the newly appointed Miss Lassen County waves alongside her court.
And on and on.
As the people in the parade pass, slowly but surely, I think how unique it us to us, that in our community I know those people.
When I was little, I used to ride in the Ms. Jenny’s Dance Studio float in Reno. My parents would wait patiently for me to get off, and we would leave while the parade was still wrapping up.
We had no real reason to stay. We didn’t know anyone else in the parade and they did not know us.
With our hometown parade, I know so many of the participants and I feel so special when they call me by my name.
And no, it’s not just me. I hear Gary Felt personally call out the participants names’ as they pass his booth on the street too. It’s a part of Lassen County.
It is constant waving and giggling and – if you’re Peach – it’s a high pitch squealing as you run to get the candy.
Let us talk about that for a second. All of our parades when it comes to candy are top notch. It’s like reverse trick or treating. We stay in one spot and the candy literally appears at our feet. As for the parent of a toddler, and avid candy lover myself, this is a clear win.
Peach giggles as she scoops up the candy, runs out to the adults she knows and gives them hugs or high fives. Squeals loudly as the floats with the water guns drench us offering us cool relief from the Lassen summer heat.
I see other kids her age act with the same enthusiasm. Dads line the street holding their little ones’ hands while mommies and grandparents open ice pops and wave to the people walking by.
It is a perfect day. A perfect memory. A perfect blip into our little community.
The Lassen County Fair Parade is a beloved family tradition and one of the reasons I will always love the place we live.
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