The Little Britches Parade brought thousands of spectators from across the Foothills to downtown High River on Saturday.
This year, the parade featured 80 entries, five marching bands, and the Al Azhar Shriners, including the Mounted Patrol Shrine Unit.
“It was a huge success,” said Hank Leeferink, Parade Chair. “We had more entries this year, we usually get anywhere from 70 to 75.”
Leeferink estimates between six to eight thousand people gathered along the parade route to watch.
“The route stretches a fair length, you go towards the hospital, the crowd is less, downtown is more, and along the way is a medium mix of people,” Leeferink said.
This year’s parade theme was a salute to educators.
With the Parade Marshalls Reg and Marlene Powys-Lybbe both educators, Leeferink said it was time to salute them.
"Educators have been through so much with the pandemic, with the lockdowns, and the kids coming back,” he said. “It's hard for them and the kids as well.”
After the parade, Leeferink received a lot of positive feedback from the community.
“Everybody loved it. I got a lot of emails, saying, ‘Thank you, that was wonderful, great time, and it was wonderful.’”
Without the support and dedication of the community, the parade wouldn’t be possible every year.
“Our parade is 100 per cent volunteers and without these volunteers, it wouldn't work,” Leeferink said.