North Sound Church singers perform along the 4th of July parade route in 2017. (File photo)
Spectators line the streets and rooftops to catch the action.
Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling and his wife Susan walk in the parade.
The Floretum Garden Club’s float reminds parade goers of their 95th year in the community.
The Hupf family from Edmonds.
Cormac Chlarson of Edmonds added flags and flowers to his tank.
LGBT Families of South Snohomish County along the parade route.
Zebra Cheerleaders do a routine.
Riley Soderland from Edmonds testing the candy for quality control before the children’s parade.
Segway of Edmonds distributes candy.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Posse wowed the crowd.
Luke (portraying George Washington) with sibling River and mom Manesseh Ferrell in the children’s parade in 2017.
Children and adults alike got into the patriotic spirit in downtown Edmonds during the annual Edmonds Kind of Fourth of July Parade Tuesday, and photographer Julia Wiese was there to capture the moments during both the children’s and main parades. The parade, as always, is presented by the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce with support from the Hazel Miller Foundation and numerous other local sponsors.
I have lived in Edmonds for 22+years. I have two daughters that loved the parade. For the past two or so years I have noticed a change, and not a good change. Like other Edmonds locals we have a favorite spot on the parade route. This year I checked on my spot at 4:00 P.M. July 3rd. and found a guy with his truck and chairs all ready to go. He was guarding the spot like a cop. Now the sign clearly says 6:00 for chairs on the sidewalk. I parked my truck and said to him, a little early aren’t you? His response was, you got to be prepared. Well I thought I was prepared to put my chairs down at 6:00. but clearly he had a better plan. So I walked into downtown looking for another spot. To my surprise I found my daughters friend and family with chairs out and sitting down,(around 5:00.) Also the street was full of people doing the same. I asked if I could join them for tomorrows parade. A huge smile came from my daughters friend and she gave me a spot. Yes I broke the law too, how can Edmonds police arrest all of us? Parade day comes and my little girl was very surprised to see her friend and family. Dad came through! Now the fun started. The police were telling everyone to get out of the street. We had great seats on the curb. That didn’t seem to stop people from just walking up in front of us and plopping down without even asking. I tried to explain to them the police wanted everyone off the street, and please don’t block my kids view. My response’s were, ( do you own the street, we have been coming to this spot for five years, that lady had two dogs. You can’t tell me what to do, God chill out, and on and on). Trying to keep my cool I had managed to fend off the riff raff for now. The kids parade started. Some guy with a camera darted right out in front of us and started taking pictures. He was not seated next to me he just say an opening and took it. I asked him if he was with the Beacon and he said no. His daughter was with him zigzagging in front of my girl grabbing candy like it was her last meal. Then he turns to me and say’s, I don’t know why she’s grabbing all that candy she’s diabetic. Just what can I say to that? I was at loss for words. During the mayhem a man asked, yes that’s right, he asked if his boy can get up closer for some candy. At this time my head was about to explode, but I said yes. The little man went up and was very confused about to do. His dad thanked me and said my boy has autism. Well my heart went from pissed to warm and fuzzy in one half a second. I said to the dad we have a extra chair if you would like for him to sit in. Once again the father was very grateful and got his boy settled down. Now the main parade was about to start. People once again began to block our view and sit down on the street in front of us. I was on my feet one again trying to explain my kids would like to see the parade and not the back of your head. As I was looking left I got flanked from the right from group of people. This time I explained to them that the boy that they are blocking has autism and he would like to see the parade. They got offended and said a few rude comments to me and continued to sit in the street. The father of the young boy said to me I have a blanket we can lay out up front to stop the people. This was a great idea. We were also breaking the street law but at this time anything go’s. We put the blanket out and the boy was eager to go laydown in the shade. Again the father asked if his wife could join us and we said yes she can have the extra chair. All was good the little boy was having the time of his live. He stood and held a salute to all the military that made his mom and dad very proud. One again all was well, until a very tall man and baby on his shoulders walks across the street and stands right in front of us. REALY! As polite as I could I went up to him and said. Could you please sit down so my kids can see. He said nothing and kneeled down. Then mom and three kids saw a break in the parade and ran across the street to join them. She had to be told to sit down so we could see and the kids began to dominate the candy grabbing. I am not making this up. This was the worst display of people not giving a damn about anyone else but themselves. To all the people that sat down in front of us shame on you and what you are teaching your children. I hope your hemorrhoids flare up so bad you can’t sit for a week. And for the great family with the sweet young man that enjoyed every moment of the parade Thank you for coming by to our spot and making our 4th. a very special one I won’t forget for a long time.
My gripe was not so much the chairs, but the rude people that didn’t think that rules applied to them. To bluntly sit down and not give a crap who you blocked or are imposing on, ( right down to a little kid with autism), is not only un American it’s a big slap in the face to humanity.
I haven’t lived in Edmonds nearly as long as Carl Lovgren, but I’ve watched the parade crowd change in the 12 years I have lived here. I thought the “not before 6:00” and “no tying the chairs together” restrictions were an improvement, but they clearly weren’t enforced. I walked along 5th Avenue at 11AM on the 4th, looking at all of the chairs tied to trees and each other.
Any parent knows the danger of making rules then not enforcing them – your rules get ignored. Edmonds City Hall and Police, please get on the same page with this. Ticket people putting out chairs before 6PM. Impound chairs left tied together. They are safety hazards and in some places, they narrow the sidewalk so much a wheelchair couldn’t get by (ADA lawsuit, anyone?) What I’d really like to see is something like this: Edmonds residents can pick up a permit during the week before the 4th, which allows them to put out chairs between 6PM and 8PM the night before. Others have to wait until after 8PM and take what’s left. On parade day, ticket people who get out into the street on blankets and such. It might sound like it’s going to ruin the 4th for people, but isn’t that already happening?
And a note to the Edmonds Police: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Rude people’s chairs notwithstanding, you were cheerful, friendly and courteous to a person as I talked to a number of you during the day.
I agree with Mr Lovgren and Mr Potter. The lines of chairs on the sidewalks is dangerous to pedestrians, an annoyance to business owners, and not fair AT ALL to other Edmonds residents and out of town visitors. Brian’s suggestion of a voucher/permit system sounds like a possible solution. Perhaps Chamber volunteers could ‘police’ the evening of the 3rd, to monitor compliance between 6 & 8. Or, the more drastic alternative, no chairs allowed. If you need a seat, the city has a special area with seats, or you can only bring it the morning of the parade. I hope something can be done about this problem.
I agree with Ms. Kunze, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Lovgren: there are some bad seeds that are taking advantage of the lack of enforcement. Mr. Potter’s solution of vouchers seems plausible at first glance, maybe even a good idea. But who will ensure that the chairs put out early are from people with vouchers? It seems likely that the same bad seeds will put their chairs out anyways, knowing that there will be no consequences.
We were all set to watch the parade that was to be streamed. However, the stream never came. We kept checking back and noticed some audio was streamed (pre parade stuff) but never saw video. Was the parade recorded and will we be able to find an archived copy?
So sorry for the inconvenience. It was streamed but the link was updated after a test and we didn’t realize it until the end of the broadcast. So it was streamed, but just via a different YouTube link. And it is archived here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nh-sOhflW0
As a follow up statement: I thought political views weren’t allowed in the parade. You can clearly see a poster in a baby stroller saying that, if he builds a wall I’m…. Can’t make out the rest but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. Why was that O.K? You even posted the picture on line #7 of 12. Did you not screen them? Or do you not care?I found it very offensive. The woman with the sigh should not be allowed in the parade next year. Just because she didn’t mention the president she clearly has an agenda. Remove #7 of 12 please, and next time do a better job of screening your photos.
Thank You
I was the rear flag bearer in the Pride of Edmonds LGBTQ group. Our group very specifically and deliberately did not include any political messages. We even asked people with those to march elsewhere, because politics was not our point. Our point was that we, as an LGBTQ group, are all proud Americans, and proud residents of Edmonds. There is an all-too-common assumption that the LGBTQ community is not patriotic. Our group’s goal was to demonstrate that we can be both proud as LGBTQ people, and proud of our flag – just as the Muslims for Peace group was there to show the stereotype of them isn’t accurate.
We know the Flag Code, and did all we could within the context of the parade to respect and implement it. We had an American flag at the front, forward of, higher than, and to it’s own right of, our rainbow flag. For good measure, we also had an American flag at the rear, higher than our other banners. We waved and passed out American flags. We had military veterans in our group, who served their country even though at the time they were not allowed to do so as openly gay or lesbian people.
Others’ comments on your post addressed your question about parading as a straight, white, man. I will answer that differently, noting few question whether the average straight, white man is patriotic. If you want to march under any flag, and proclaim your patriotism, then I am all for that. If you feel that people question your patriotism because of your straightness, whiteness, or maleness, then I would encourage you to march in any way that shows they are wrong, without impugning or denigrating others.
Your last post stated that you were done with the parade after 20 years. If the rudeness of people is what pushed you to that, then I totally understand, I’m right there with you. But if you are quitting because we wanted to participate as ourselves, to promote a greater sense of patriotism and community, then I’m truly, truly sorry. Not sorry that our actions offended you, but sorry that your sense of America cannot include us, and what we can contribute to make America great.
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Great pictures, Julia!!
Thanks Susan!
I have lived in Edmonds for 22+years. I have two daughters that loved the parade. For the past two or so years I have noticed a change, and not a good change. Like other Edmonds locals we have a favorite spot on the parade route. This year I checked on my spot at 4:00 P.M. July 3rd. and found a guy with his truck and chairs all ready to go. He was guarding the spot like a cop. Now the sign clearly says 6:00 for chairs on the sidewalk. I parked my truck and said to him, a little early aren’t you? His response was, you got to be prepared. Well I thought I was prepared to put my chairs down at 6:00. but clearly he had a better plan. So I walked into downtown looking for another spot. To my surprise I found my daughters friend and family with chairs out and sitting down,(around 5:00.) Also the street was full of people doing the same. I asked if I could join them for tomorrows parade. A huge smile came from my daughters friend and she gave me a spot. Yes I broke the law too, how can Edmonds police arrest all of us? Parade day comes and my little girl was very surprised to see her friend and family. Dad came through! Now the fun started. The police were telling everyone to get out of the street. We had great seats on the curb. That didn’t seem to stop people from just walking up in front of us and plopping down without even asking. I tried to explain to them the police wanted everyone off the street, and please don’t block my kids view. My response’s were, ( do you own the street, we have been coming to this spot for five years, that lady had two dogs. You can’t tell me what to do, God chill out, and on and on). Trying to keep my cool I had managed to fend off the riff raff for now. The kids parade started. Some guy with a camera darted right out in front of us and started taking pictures. He was not seated next to me he just say an opening and took it. I asked him if he was with the Beacon and he said no. His daughter was with him zigzagging in front of my girl grabbing candy like it was her last meal. Then he turns to me and say’s, I don’t know why she’s grabbing all that candy she’s diabetic. Just what can I say to that? I was at loss for words. During the mayhem a man asked, yes that’s right, he asked if his boy can get up closer for some candy. At this time my head was about to explode, but I said yes. The little man went up and was very confused about to do. His dad thanked me and said my boy has autism. Well my heart went from pissed to warm and fuzzy in one half a second. I said to the dad we have a extra chair if you would like for him to sit in. Once again the father was very grateful and got his boy settled down. Now the main parade was about to start. People once again began to block our view and sit down on the street in front of us. I was on my feet one again trying to explain my kids would like to see the parade and not the back of your head. As I was looking left I got flanked from the right from group of people. This time I explained to them that the boy that they are blocking has autism and he would like to see the parade. They got offended and said a few rude comments to me and continued to sit in the street. The father of the young boy said to me I have a blanket we can lay out up front to stop the people. This was a great idea. We were also breaking the street law but at this time anything go’s. We put the blanket out and the boy was eager to go laydown in the shade. Again the father asked if his wife could join us and we said yes she can have the extra chair. All was good the little boy was having the time of his live. He stood and held a salute to all the military that made his mom and dad very proud. One again all was well, until a very tall man and baby on his shoulders walks across the street and stands right in front of us. REALY! As polite as I could I went up to him and said. Could you please sit down so my kids can see. He said nothing and kneeled down. Then mom and three kids saw a break in the parade and ran across the street to join them. She had to be told to sit down so we could see and the kids began to dominate the candy grabbing. I am not making this up. This was the worst display of people not giving a damn about anyone else but themselves. To all the people that sat down in front of us shame on you and what you are teaching your children. I hope your hemorrhoids flare up so bad you can’t sit for a week. And for the great family with the sweet young man that enjoyed every moment of the parade Thank you for coming by to our spot and making our 4th. a very special one I won’t forget for a long time.
My gripe was not so much the chairs, but the rude people that didn’t think that rules applied to them. To bluntly sit down and not give a crap who you blocked or are imposing on, ( right down to a little kid with autism), is not only un American it’s a big slap in the face to humanity.
Great pictures from a really great Edmonds Kind of 4th!
Thank you Jan
I haven’t lived in Edmonds nearly as long as Carl Lovgren, but I’ve watched the parade crowd change in the 12 years I have lived here. I thought the “not before 6:00” and “no tying the chairs together” restrictions were an improvement, but they clearly weren’t enforced. I walked along 5th Avenue at 11AM on the 4th, looking at all of the chairs tied to trees and each other.
Any parent knows the danger of making rules then not enforcing them – your rules get ignored. Edmonds City Hall and Police, please get on the same page with this. Ticket people putting out chairs before 6PM. Impound chairs left tied together. They are safety hazards and in some places, they narrow the sidewalk so much a wheelchair couldn’t get by (ADA lawsuit, anyone?) What I’d really like to see is something like this: Edmonds residents can pick up a permit during the week before the 4th, which allows them to put out chairs between 6PM and 8PM the night before. Others have to wait until after 8PM and take what’s left. On parade day, ticket people who get out into the street on blankets and such. It might sound like it’s going to ruin the 4th for people, but isn’t that already happening?
And a note to the Edmonds Police: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Rude people’s chairs notwithstanding, you were cheerful, friendly and courteous to a person as I talked to a number of you during the day.
I agree with Mr Lovgren and Mr Potter. The lines of chairs on the sidewalks is dangerous to pedestrians, an annoyance to business owners, and not fair AT ALL to other Edmonds residents and out of town visitors. Brian’s suggestion of a voucher/permit system sounds like a possible solution. Perhaps Chamber volunteers could ‘police’ the evening of the 3rd, to monitor compliance between 6 & 8. Or, the more drastic alternative, no chairs allowed. If you need a seat, the city has a special area with seats, or you can only bring it the morning of the parade. I hope something can be done about this problem.
I agree with Ms. Kunze, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Lovgren: there are some bad seeds that are taking advantage of the lack of enforcement. Mr. Potter’s solution of vouchers seems plausible at first glance, maybe even a good idea. But who will ensure that the chairs put out early are from people with vouchers? It seems likely that the same bad seeds will put their chairs out anyways, knowing that there will be no consequences.
We were all set to watch the parade that was to be streamed. However, the stream never came. We kept checking back and noticed some audio was streamed (pre parade stuff) but never saw video. Was the parade recorded and will we be able to find an archived copy?
Thanks for any info!
So sorry for the inconvenience. It was streamed but the link was updated after a test and we didn’t realize it until the end of the broadcast. So it was streamed, but just via a different YouTube link. And it is archived here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nh-sOhflW0
As a follow up statement: I thought political views weren’t allowed in the parade. You can clearly see a poster in a baby stroller saying that, if he builds a wall I’m…. Can’t make out the rest but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. Why was that O.K? You even posted the picture on line #7 of 12. Did you not screen them? Or do you not care?I found it very offensive. The woman with the sigh should not be allowed in the parade next year. Just because she didn’t mention the president she clearly has an agenda. Remove #7 of 12 please, and next time do a better job of screening your photos.
Thank You
I agree. What’s up carl?
Look in the stroller and read the sign. I don’t think I’m seeing things.
Mr. Lovgren- I’m replying here, though many of your concerns to which I will respond were on a different post. (That original post was letter to the editor, on which your post mistakenly appeared. https://myedmondsnews.com/2017/06/letter-editor-need-smaller-class-sizes-schools/)
I was the rear flag bearer in the Pride of Edmonds LGBTQ group. Our group very specifically and deliberately did not include any political messages. We even asked people with those to march elsewhere, because politics was not our point. Our point was that we, as an LGBTQ group, are all proud Americans, and proud residents of Edmonds. There is an all-too-common assumption that the LGBTQ community is not patriotic. Our group’s goal was to demonstrate that we can be both proud as LGBTQ people, and proud of our flag – just as the Muslims for Peace group was there to show the stereotype of them isn’t accurate.
We know the Flag Code, and did all we could within the context of the parade to respect and implement it. We had an American flag at the front, forward of, higher than, and to it’s own right of, our rainbow flag. For good measure, we also had an American flag at the rear, higher than our other banners. We waved and passed out American flags. We had military veterans in our group, who served their country even though at the time they were not allowed to do so as openly gay or lesbian people.
Others’ comments on your post addressed your question about parading as a straight, white, man. I will answer that differently, noting few question whether the average straight, white man is patriotic. If you want to march under any flag, and proclaim your patriotism, then I am all for that. If you feel that people question your patriotism because of your straightness, whiteness, or maleness, then I would encourage you to march in any way that shows they are wrong, without impugning or denigrating others.
Your last post stated that you were done with the parade after 20 years. If the rudeness of people is what pushed you to that, then I totally understand, I’m right there with you. But if you are quitting because we wanted to participate as ourselves, to promote a greater sense of patriotism and community, then I’m truly, truly sorry. Not sorry that our actions offended you, but sorry that your sense of America cannot include us, and what we can contribute to make America great.