Washington County Fair parade celebrates with floats, beauty queens and candy

ST. GEORGE — With colorful floats, candy flying through the air, go karts crashing and beauty queens waving, the annual Washington County Fair parade rolled through downtown St. George Saturday.

Beginning at the west end of Tabernacle Street, the parade got started with the color guard walking the stars and stripes down the street. They were followed by three of St. George’s finest police officers, who performed an impressive synchronized dance with their motorcycles.

There were covered wagons, royalty from each city in Washington County, numerous horses, politician from both sides of the aisle and candy, lots of candy. Nearly every float, car and wagon threw sugar-coated treats to the throngs of children, who frantically scrambled to collect as many sweets as they could

Gina Gaskell was in attendance with her 5-year-old son Asher and said both the fair and the parade have been events she has been going to for most of her life.

“It’s exciting to bring my little guy here,” she said. “It’s always a great parade, it’s probably the best one in Southern Utah through the year. We go to all of them. It’s great to see everyone in support of the fair.”

Several local radio stations rolled down Tabernacle with loudspeakers blaring their music. A marching band got the crowd rocking with their rhythmic sounds, while classic and vintage cars honked their horns.

Ryan Crowton was likewise at the parade with his son. A recent transplant from northern Utah, he said he came to see what St. George had to offer. He came away impressed.

“It was pretty nice,” he said.”The kid got a lot of candy and had a lot of fun.”

Fiesta Family Fun Center had four go-karts zipping around the streets while the crowd cheered, but at one point, two of the drivers got a little over-exuberant and crashed head-first into one another. While no one was hurt physically, both drivers resumed cruising with beet-red faces.

A few floats and wagons brought up the rear of the parade, and a firetruck from the St. George Fire Department signaled the end of the procession, its lights flashing and the firemen sounding their horn.

The parade was finished, and hundreds of smiling faces began to depart.

Another year, another successful parade.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

 

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12 Comments

  • homer498 August 13, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    Hot, Boring, Depressing, and Miserable! Why is the sun soo brite here? Why have I spent 30 years here?

    • ladybugavenger August 13, 2016 at 9:20 pm

      St George is closer to the sun lol….and other than summer it’s really pleasant weather. Boring and strange but the view is beautiful 🙂

      • homer498 August 14, 2016 at 7:41 pm

        Now how can you honestly say that Ladybugger? I used to believe those say things though. It just took me a longtime of really paying attention before I realized it is all propaganda & hype! I moved here from SLC in 92. Lived in SG & CC, went to DSU & SUU, worked outside a lot, and observed the following: Looking in all directions, if you are honest with yourself, there is nothing to see here but “Dirt”. Dirt, dirt, dirt …. Additionally, most people living & working here spend very little time outside. The primary reason for this is because a preponderance of the time it is: too windy, too hot, too cold, and way too brite outside. This is one of the few places in the world where Seasonal Affective Disorder is a year round depressive disorder. And residents actually have spikes in depression on the nicest days. This is because they develop serious levels of guilt if they don’t utilize actually good days to go outside and do something. I used to be a runner years ago. Try going out for a 30min walk or run every day, or even every other day for just a single month. Hell, try to do anything outside regularly. I used to wonder why the State of Utah advertises so much to people who already live here. To all the “Bob’s” saying I should just leave. I am just visiting my parents. I’m leaving on the 25th. The first six months I lived in California, the were 3 out of 180+ that were too windy or rainy to go outside. I’m not anti Utah, or Pro anywhere else, but I am “Pro-happiness”. And 72 degrees / 300 days a year + Soft sunshine = happy. It’s almost as good as Shih Tzu’s!

        • Bob August 15, 2016 at 12:43 pm

          well, the summers can be quite unpleasant. The rest of the year the “weather” is mostly made unpleasant by the local mormons. You sure it isn’t mormons that u have a problem with?

          • ladybugavenger August 16, 2016 at 1:52 pm

            Have you seen the movie pitch black? It’s the one with the 3 suns. That’s how I feel when I walk from my car into Walmart. it burns. LOL! The red dirt is nice.

            I have a problem with religion. LDS/FLDS I can’t tell the difference ? Is it the F?

            I’m ready to pick up that UHaul….is it Thursday yet?

            Hey Dot…..I’m gonna miss ewe ?

    • Bob August 13, 2016 at 9:57 pm

      lol, no one made u stay

    • Bob August 13, 2016 at 9:57 pm

      no one makes u stay now, lol

  • .... August 13, 2016 at 9:22 pm

    It was a fantastic parade. It was well organized and exciting. the weather was perfect. children were dancing and singing and celebrating community members enjoying the day with their friends and loved ones. …it was a joyous occasion for the community. Praise the Lord !

  • .... August 13, 2016 at 9:23 pm

    Homer do yourself a favor and leave. Nobody would care

  • ladybugavenger August 14, 2016 at 4:26 pm

    I like candy

    • .... August 15, 2016 at 9:14 am

      I like candy and ladybug ..Homer bad Homer not good Homer really bad not good Homer !

  • .... August 15, 2016 at 9:12 am

    Hey Homer GO AWAY. ! FAR FAR AWAY ! AND WHEN YOU GET THERE. .KEEP GOING !

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