Bigger was better in La Conner on Saturday afternoon.
The 2025 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Parade set unofficial records for length and quality as a sunny, balmy afternoon drew large upbeat crowds downtown that didn’t have to compete with parked vehicles for sidewalk curb space.
No one was disappointed by an entertaining parade. The Daffoldi Parade and Pet Parade joined the Tulip Festival Parade to create one giant parade that lasted more than a half-hour and featured an eclectic mix of entries led by Grand Marshals Gary and Marlo Frank and a fleet of emergency vehicles.
“This is definitely Minnesota-approved,” said Francis White, of Preston, Minn., who, with his wife Melonie, attended the parade and booked a room in town as part of their nine-day Pacific Northwest vacation.
They weren’t La Conner’s only out-of-state guests for a parade that has grown exponentially from its origins in the 1980s as a local spur-of-the-moment walking serpentine.
“This is absolutely fantastic,” said a parade-goer who identified herself as a member of the Heiser and Hinsz family of Wallace, Idaho.
“We came all the way here for the Tulip Festival and parade,” she said.
This year’s parade had something for everyone.
La Conner Thrives Association offered to partner with the Tulip Parade because scheduling would have put the parades back to back. “Two weekends in a row would have been impractical,” said Nicky McGarity, executive director of the La Conner Thrives Association, a non-profit social change organization established in August 2024 to enhance economic vitality and tourism experiences in and around La Conner.
“We offered to partner with them and make it bigger, better, and more joyful! Everyone thought it would be a great solution. And it was!” McGarity said.
There were all kinds of pets in this year’s parade, including “Cody,” La Conner Chamber of Commerce Director Mark Hulst’s Shelty, several miniature donkeys, and a pair of short-striding dachshunds.
“I haven’t seen so many smiles in La Conner in a while,” McGarity said..
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Board President Rob Ashby, who served as the parade’s announcer and in that role made it a point to thank Canadians for their attendance, had promised an impressive parade.
“Nothing’s more wholesome than a beautiful parade.”
“It had to be the longest parade we’ve had,” said La Conner Mayor Marna Hanneman, who helped wrap up the day’s busy schedule by judging the pet pageant at Gilkey Square.
Hanneman said she couldn’t have been happier with the weather. She had prayed to the “Sun Gods” beforehand for favorable parade conditions. She gave credit to others, though, for what was universally deemed a perfect day.
“I say it all the time that it takes a village,” she said, “and they all certainly turned out today.”
Hanneman was likewise pleased with the public response to the Town’s parking ban on First Street prior to and during the parade. Compliance was nearly 100%. There was only one parked car on the street when the parade began.
“Everybody loved it,” Hanneman said. “In fact, the only complaints I heard were from people upset that we were going to open the street up to traffic and parking again.”
Town Fire Chief and Code Enforcement Officer Aaron Reinstra received similar feedback.
“I only had three complaints and those were about us opening the street back up. They wanted it closed the entire weekend,” Reinstra said.
The La Conner Thrives Association arranged for golf carts to shuttle people to and from La Conner’s north and south parking lots.
As a result, folks were better able to stroll downtown First Street at their leisure. Many lingered well after the parade had ended.
Of course there were challenges, McGarity admitted. “As a planner, I’ve got my notes for next year. But it’s like a wedding day. It doesn’t matter, you figure it out in the moment and then just enjoy the celebration.”
Bill Reynolds: bill@laconnercommunitynews.org. Bill is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
