RIDGEFIELD — The best thing about Ridgefield’s annual Fourth of July parade?
It depends, of course, on whom you ask.
Some prefer the classic Mustangs, metallic paint glittering in the sun, emitting the throaty roar of horsepower as drivers rev the engines.
Others enjoy the four-legged horsepower, with flowers and ribbons braided into their manes. That’s the kind of entry Bobbi Luper of Scappoose, Ore., favors: “All the lovely horse groups,” she said.
Proud riders even took the time to paint one horse’s hooves silver; another horse’s hooves sported little sparkly stars.
Sitting astride her mount, Luper is queen of the Wrinkled Wrangler chapter of the 40-Something Cowgirls, a national group of women who never outgrew their love of horses. A half-dozen chapter members rode the parade route Friday through the heart of the city, down Main Avenue and up Pioneer Street. The parade was just one part of a day-long menu of small-town fun planned for Ridgefield, culminating with a fireworks show.
“I just love the community,” said Christina Pile of La Center, another Wringled Wrangler. “Everybody gets to do something fun and celebrate America’s happy birthday.”
And there was community aplenty on display. Thousands packed downtown Ridgefield, sitting and standing two or three deep, as the parade stepped off shortly after 11 a.m. In the next hour, the best of traditional small-town America was on the march.
In addition to horses and cars, there were pedal-powered surreys with, of course, fringe on top. The Phone Car, a big red touch-tone phone, puzzled and pleased the crowd. You could see – and hear – lots of firetrucks, and the fire district’s big new rescue boat. A series of electric vehicles — a Smart ForTwo, a Nissan Leaf, a Chevrolet Volt and a Tesla Model S — whispered by.
Too modern? The Fort Vancouver Antique Equipment Association drove a good assortment of antique tractors and farm machinery. That group’s biggest annual event, the Rural Heritage Fair, will be July 19-20 at Schurman’s Iron Ranch, 23100 N.E. 10th Ave.
“I love the tradition, the hometown celebration,” said Sandy Gorder of Ridgefield.
And the hometown was certainly on display. The Ridgefield High School Band played, and the school’s colors and mascot, the Spudders, were a common theme. In a variation on the classic children’s story, high school students offered a float: “The Princess and the Spud.”
Jabba the Spud walked with a guard who looked a lot like Darth Vader. Though Jabba’s face appeared to be nasty, his body was more like that of a yam. Perhaps there is still a little hidden sweetness?
Arguably the most successful Ridgefield product in recent memory, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, marched the main streets of her hometown with her husband, Daniel, and baby, Abigail, whose survival story was topic of a recent People magazine article. And, of course, there were many other political figures and candidates too.
Maybe that’s why Ridgefield Boy Scout Brendan Shroyer, 14, was so diplomatic when asked about what he thought was the best thing about the parade.
Shroyer, who said he’s marched in the parade more years than he can remember, gave an answer as good as any of the politicians.
“There’s a lot of stuff in the parade,” he said.
