Love zany 15 minute parades?
Did I have the place for you yesterday.
It was Old Port Festival Weekend in the city. It's our traditional welcoming of summer to Portland. Events started happening on Friday, but everything hit a crescendo Sunday afternoon when thousands upon thousands crowded into the Old Port. Rain or shine for 42 years the fest has brought crowds into the city from all the surrounding communities. By about 12:30, waves of festival-goers were streaming down towards Middle and Temple Streets. Elenka and I had found seats on a concrete barricade and were listening to the band North To Nashville at one of the music stages, and it was simply amazing to watch the people funneling down towards Exchange Street. As has been the tradition through the years, the Shoestring Theater troupe kicked off the events of the day with many of their hilarious-faced, gigantic puppets with a madcap romp down Exchange.
The sun was out.
The crowds were out.
The fun and festivities were on.
Hello Summer!
So now let the party begin!
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
ReplyDeleteTradition is a good thing, here.
Sounds like you two had the best seats in the house Birdman :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you two had the best seats in the house Birdman :)
ReplyDeleteGreat fun. Love those hooped skirts!
ReplyDeleteEverybody loves a parade! None here though, it was way too hot.
ReplyDeletepretty neat community event. :)
ReplyDeleteA very nice photo-op!
ReplyDeleteFun times. Love those big ol' puppets.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have parades in Haninge, nice way to welcome Summer.
ReplyDeleteTypically I don't like parades, but these people/figures are intriguing!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like it draws people in!
ReplyDeleteNeat - 0
ReplyDeleteI love that Anthony Bourdain ate at Ethel's Grill - he missed the tiny tofu factory right across the street though! He didn;t get that only the Hawaiians are Hawaiian - the rest of us are Hawaii people....pretty good show this time
Great pic, wish I'd been there to shoot it. Did the characters scare or amuse the kids?
ReplyDeleteThose are fun!
ReplyDeleteWait, wait, I thought summer was on July 4 in Maine?
ReplyDeleteA wonderful community gathering; hail to summer!!
ReplyDeleteThere they are: Shoestring Puppets! I couldn't believe what a celebrating city Portland was when I fist moved there in '79. It's changed, but I love that the happy traditions continue.
ReplyDeleteI like parades, but this year my schedule has been messed up and I have missed all of them so far.
ReplyDelete