Notting Hill Celebrates Carnival 2013

Hundreds of thousands of people descended on west London today for the second day of the Notting Hill Carnival.

Europe's biggest street festival - celebrating Caribbean culture, food and music - opened at 9am with the start of the procession as forecasters predicted temperatures of up to 26C.

Thousands of revellers lined the streets to see the parade of floats and feather clad dancers along the route from Great Western Road to Ladbroke Grove where it was due to end at 7pm.

Thousands more were expected to gather on the streets around the carnival route where dozens of sound systems had been set up. 

Today was adults' day of the 49th year of the festival which is expected to attract up to one million people over two days.

By 11am thousands had already lined the streets of Notting Hill to see the carnival procession.

Under the Westway, hundreds attended a party hosted by Red Bull Music Academy, with acts including The Marleys, Bob Marley's sons, Disclosure and David Rodigan.

The maddest boat parade in the world!

You’re building a boat out of something you shouldn’t,' Adams told the Muskogee Phoenix. 'We’re racing in cardboard boats that shouldn’t float but they do. It’s just a fun atmosphere.'

The fun starts with the Parade of Boats and Harbor Party from 6:30 to 10 p.m. today at Three Forks Harbor featuring the band Infinity of Tulsa. The main event, River Rumba and Cardboard Boat Regatta, starts with registration and check-in from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday with inflatable rides opening in the Kids Zone at 10 a.m.

The ideas are never-ending -  .. .  

Adams, chairman of the event hosted by Exchange Club of Muskogee, is employed with OSU Extension Education for 4-H Youth Development. So he’s working with 4-H members in Muskogee County who are building their boats in addition to being in charge of the big event. Some clubs have brought their boats to the 4-H Building on the Muskogee Fairgrounds for the final touches while the Muskogee 4-H Club is building its boat there.

Madison Blair, 15, president of the Muskogee 4-H Club, said club members come together to build the boat. They’ve come up with a design that will 'let it go faster.'

'We haven’t sunk yet,' she said.

The club has participated several years during the sixth annual event. There is an award paddle that moves from club to club representing different competitions. Club members and adult leaders work on the boats. Some will cheer from the river banks and others will ride in the boat.

'Everybody would like to be on the boat,' Blair said.

Some are sturdier than others!

Brendan Crotty, 11, used the end of a small paint brush to seal the glued tape to the boat. It’s his first year to help. On the other side of the boat of a work day was Kira Cogdill, 9, wearing a white apron to protect her clothing from the glue.

'I’m going to ride in it,' she said as she focused on placing tape on the boat.

When asked if she as afraid of it sinking, she said, 'Not so much.'

Adams said members are doing a lot of work to seal the boat using drywall tape and contact cement. Once that is finished and dry, the boat is painted. Each boat from the different 4-H Clubs in the county has a business sponsor like Edward Jones, McDonald’s or Armstrong Bank. The businesses help the club with 

buying supplies.

'Making a big cardboard boat is not normal,' Natalie Armstrong, 11, said. 'I want to ride in it. It sounds funny.'

Adams said the regatta is a family event that raises money to help kids. So far, about $15,000 has been raised through sponsorships and another $5,000 is hoped to be made on Saturday. A new category has been added this year called the 'Connors One Day Challenge.'

'We’ll provide two rolls of duct tape and 10 sheets of cardboard,' Adams said. 'They’ll have four hours to build it.'

The team members can bring whatever they want with them to build the boat but it will be built at Three Forks Harbor Saturday. That race will be the last one of the day at about 1 p.m.

In addition to the new event, Adams expects about 40 to 45 boats to race through the day in different heats.

'We’ve got some neat boats,' he said. 'Firstar is doing super heros like Batman and Robin in a batmobile.'

You can get more information about the event at www.exchangeclubmuskogee.org

Apply For Auburn Veterans Day Parade!

Official applications may be picked up at the Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Office, 910 Ninth Street SE, or downloaded from the City of Auburn's – www.auburnwa.gov.

The 48th annual event is Saturday, Nov. 9 with the parade beginning promptly at 11 a.m. The parade is limited to approximately 200 entries and will be viewed by tens of thousands. This year's parade will pay special tribute to the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Parade applications must be received by Oct. 4 to be considered. Applications can be faxed to 253-931-4005 or can be mailed or hand-delivered to the Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Office. Interested applicants may also register on the city's website. Applications will be reviewed after the deadline and entries chosen will receive an official confirmation and complete event information.

About Auburn's Veterans Day Observance

The National Veterans Day Committee and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have once again selected the City of Auburn as one of the few regional sites for Veterans Day Observance in 2013. The mile-long parade, one of the largest of its kind in the United States, includes more than 5,500 parade participants and features military marching units and vehicles, veteran units, marching bands, honor guards, drill teams, antique military vehicles and equipment, as well as floats, antique cars and more. The parade will proceed west on Main Street from E Street Northeast to A Street Northwest.

Other events related to the Veterans Day celebration in Auburn include a Remembrance Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, a Static Display & Exhibit Showcase, a breakfast and luncheon to honor veterans, the state's largest marching band competition and much more.

The City of Auburn has announced the return of The Wall That Heals, a Vietnam Veterans Traveling Wall. This half-scale replica of the Washington, D.C.-based wall will be open for viewing Friday, Nov. 8-Monday, Nov. 11 at Veterans Memorial Park. The exhibit contains 58,249 names of those killed or missing in action from this conflict. This exhibit is open 24 hours a day and includes a 53-foot museum, computers with databases available to help locate names on the wall.

For information, visit www.auburnwa.gov/events or call 253-931-3043.

Corn Roast Festival Parade Joins Tour de Corn!

"Tour de Corn" aptly describes this year's Corn Roast Festival parade, which will be a medley of corn and bicycle themes to honor the USA Pro Challenge.

The parade, which usually starts at 9:30 a.m., will roll through town an hour earlier at 8:30 a.m., to free up the roads in time for the race that will speed through downtown at noon.

One hundred businesses and local organizations will sponsor floats and dance, perform, play and march up Railroad Avenue to Sixth Street and back down past Second Street.

Grand marshals leading the event this year are Annie Hall and Bill and Elizabeth Markham. At age 99, Hall is most well-known for founding Children's Day in Colorado. She has been a community volunteer and leader for 40 years.

Bill Markham has personally delivered the corn to the festival for 15 years. His wife Elizabeth has worked for the Loveland Police Department and contributed greatly to the Junior Cadet program.

Restrictions were tighter on animal entries this year, especially horses, said Mindy McCloughan with the Loveland Chamber of Commerce. The city roads need to be clean before the race. Owners will be responsible for cleaning up after their animals and fees will be collected from people who do not use pooper scoopers. "This year it is extremely important due to the thousands of people coming to witness this monumental event (the USA Pro Challenge). We definitely want our streets clean," McCloughan said. "And we have to minimize the risk to the cyclists." A crew will also come behind the parade to clean up the streets.

The Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast will be 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday morning in the Reporter-Herald parking lot on the southwest corner of Fifth Street and Cleveland Avenue. The club will serve all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage and juice starting at 6:30 a.m. Proceeds help children in the community.

Corn Roast events actually start Friday evening with the corn shucking and a concert by New Sensation.

Bands will kick off Saturday at 11 a.m.

The Corn Eating contest is at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Seven-year-old Neeley Jarosik won in her age division in 2012, and had practiced for three days.

This year she plans to enter again, and hopes to retain her title. "It was really exciting to win," she said. "There were a lot of older kids than me, like 8- and 7-year-olds," she said. She practices by eating as much corn as she can to a timer set by her parents. "I really, really like corn," she said. "It's really fun to race."

Harrison Hand with his film production company, "Shoestring Awesome," will also host a scavenger hunt during the Corn Roast Festival. Community members can solve a mystery message by finding clues starting at Anthology Book Co. and continuing to nine other businesses. Some of the clues will be posted on restaurant storefronts and some will be in the stores, to promote the businesses. The deciphered mystery phrase will lead to tokens to spend at the fair and a ticket for the pre-launch event of a Global Treasure Hunt graphic novel that Hand is producing with his company in 2014. The global hunt will be a hunt for a key in Northern Colorado that unlocks a treasure box. Hunt hopes to attract people to the area who buy the novel and go hunting for the key. To find out more about the novel, visithttp://maizemaiden.com.

"I know that when events happen in downtown, a lot of time that can be rough on some of the businesses because their normal customers don't get down there and the people at the event are focused on the event rather than the stores," Hand said. "This is something to benefit the merchants so people pay attention to them."

For daily stories leading up to the Old Fashioned Corn Roast Festival and USA Pro Challenge, visit the Reporter-Herald website at reporterherald.com or check out the newspaper.

Jessica Benes can be reached at 669-5050, ext. 530, or jbenes@reporter-herald.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JessicaBenes. Read her blog at jessicabenes.com.


If You Go

Thursday:

6-8 p.m. '80s-themed Family Bike Carnival, Loveland Museum/Gallery.

6:15 p.m. Lecture on "How to Understand the Race" by Nancy Nichols, Loveland Museum/Gallery.

8 p.m. "Breaking Away" movie at the Rialto Theater Center.

Friday:

5 p.m. Corn Roast festival opening ceremony.

5:30 p.m. Corn Shucking Contest.

8-10 p.m. New Sensation ('80s band) plays.

Saturday:

6:30-10 a.m. Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast, corner of Fifth Street and Cleveland Avenue.

8 a.m. USA Pro Challenge (USAPC) festivities begin at The Ranch.

8:30 a.m. Corn Roast Parade "Tour de Corn" starts at Fairgrounds Park going through downtown Loveland.

11 a.m. Opening ceremony for USAPC race at The Ranch.

Noon-12:35 p.m. USAPC sprint line at corner of Lincoln Avenue and Fourth Street.

1 p.m. Elders Concert begins.

3 p.m. Corn Eating contest.

4:30 p.m. Loveland's Got Talent contest.

6-8 p.m. Kory Brunson Band (country).

Info: For more details about the events, visit nococycling.com andhttp://visitlovelandco.com.

Join our online chat

We will host a live chat on our web site at 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, with an editor, reporter and several community experts to discuss the USA Pro Challenge and Corn Roast Festival. Visitreporterherald.com to find the discussion, which will have the headline, "Join our live chat." All you need is a keyboard to write your questions. Ask questions, discuss concerns and give comments about the weekend of events.

St. Paul Park Grand Parade part of family fun!

Hundreds of area residents lined Summit Avenue Saturday to watch dozens of decorated floats make their way through town during the annual St. Paul Park Heritage Days grand parade.

Celebrating its 29th year with the theme “Hot Times on Broadway,” the parade featured colorful floats from area businesses, youth sports organizations, local faith groups, and fire rigs from the St. Paul Park, Newport and Cottage Grove fire departments.

The grand parade kicked off the day’s events downtown St. Paul Park, which include a carnival, car show, horseshoe tournament and art auction.

For a complete list of events going on throughout the weekend, visit the Heritage Days website. http://www.heritagedaysfestival.org/

Pride Parade showers Montreal streets in color

The annual LGBTA Parade added extra color and festivity to the streets of Montreal Sunday afternoon.

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois joined the festivities, the first time a premier has participated in the tradition dating back to 1979.

• GALLERY | Your Montreal Pride Week photos

She was joined by a record number of federal, provincial and municipal politicians, including Quebec Liberal leader Philippe Couillard, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

Montreal mayor Laurent Blanchard also took part.

• This year’s parade featured floats from more than 130 organizations including sports teams, cultural and community groups, businesses, as well as other gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender groups.

This year’s theme is “Our Flag, Our Life: Red.”

A great day for a parade

Beneath glorious blue skies and brilliant sunshine the 53rd edition of the Gold Cup Parade wound its way through the streets of Charlottetown Friday to the cheers and applause of thousands of Islanders and visitors who lined the parade route.

With more than 100 entries it took well over an hour for the parade to pass by.

“We drive over every year from Moncton for this parade and have never been disappointed, except once or twice by the weather,” said Claudette LeBlanc. “It took a little longer to see everything this year but it was still a great parade. We don’t have anything near this good in Moncton.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE 2013 GOLD CUP PARADE.

Alan MacDonald of Souris said it was well worth the trip to town.

“I had the day off, enjoyed the parade immensely and now I’m going for lobster, beer and some harness racing. Couldn’t be better. Still wondering what happened to the Mike Duffy balloon though. “

This year’s parade theme was “Parade of Heroes” and many floats took that theme to heart celebrating the contributions of Second World War and Korean War veterans, as well as the contributions of everyday heroes like police, firefighters and paramedics.

Few grasped the theme better than MacDougall Steel Erectors, winner of the most outstanding parade entry, who entered a float celebrating future heroes.

That float featured children dressed as emergency responders rescuing super heroes from a burning house.

And there were other heroes as well Friday, from comic book characters to sports heroes.

P.E.I.’s Korean War veterans served as this year’s parade marshals and about a third of the 30 remaining veterans took part in the parade.

They received a standing ovation from many lining the route.

Parade officials had promised one of the best parades ever and they did their best to deliver.

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There were brass bands, pipe bands, rock’n’roll bands and majorettes.

There were vintage trucks and tractors, stock cars, custom vehicles and novelty vehicles.

There were clowns and cartoon characters to delight young and old alike, from Kermit the frog, Barney and Despicable Me Minions to Angry Birds and Beauty and The Beast.

And there were Gold Cup Ambassadors, a perennial highlight of the parade since its inception in 1962.

Traveling in convertibles that bore the names of the horses they represent, they serve to remind us of one of the primary reasons for establishing the parade over 50 years ago.

Like any summer parade on P.E.I., the Gold Cup Parade featured scores of smiling happy children waving from floats, beauty pageant winners and assorted clowns.

And for sheer entertainment value the Shriners continued to deliver the goods, zipping in and out on their assortment of miniature vehicles.

There are always surprises and this year was no exception.

This year that included people who thought the parade was over and drove into the middle of things only to discover they were now part of the parade because.... surprise, surprise...there was actually more to come.

Heather MacLean, a spokeswoman for the parade, said issues with some of the inflatables slowed down sections of the parade, creating gaps.

“We switched this year from helium to cold air and that slowed things down,” MacLean said. “One of the inflatables collapsed and had to be taken out of the parade altogether.”

Still the parade accomplished what the parade is supposed to accomplish, it brought thousands into the downtown core, entertained and delighted people of all ages and sent most home with smiles on their faces and cameras full of photographs.

Brazilian Day San Diego Parade

Brazilian Day San Diego is excited to welcome San Diego Gas & Electric as a proud sponsor of its annual parade and street fair. This year the festive event will take place on Sunday, September 8, 2013 at Garnet Avenue Pacific Beach from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Others sponsors include Coca-Cola, Sound Solutions, San Diego County, and the City of San Diego.

The Brazilian festival seeks to educate the public regarding the Brazilian culture with stage performances, programs, shows and musical entertainment among others. The festive celebration of the Brazilian culture is attended by over 60,000 local residents and is usually covered by major media sources such as NBC San Diego, FOX, KUSI, Telemundo , MyTV13, UT San Diego, Univision, DiscoverSD, Brazil Explore, Pacific Magazine, SanDiegoVIPS, Soul Brasil & many more.

The popular event will feature a gala parade with decorative floats, community performances and workshops for attendees. Additionally, the Brazilian Day San Diego Street Fair and Parade promotes the study of Capoeira, Brazilian Dance & Percussion for all ages. Vendor and exhibitor booths are available for those wishing to sell food, drinks, handmade crafts, and other goods and services.

Founder and organizer, Paulo Lima had this to say, “We are thrilled to have the great folks at San Diego Gas & Electric join us as a sponsor. We’re expecting a huge turn-out this year and look forward to making many new friends during the event.”

Brazilian Day San Diego is the largest Brazilian event on the West Coast and receives major social media exposure with over 50,000+ Facebook Fans. It is a non-profit event and all sponsorships are tax deductible. Just a few of the vendors who have already signed up for the Brazilian Festival include New York Life, Pacific Beach Bar & Grill, Wyndam Garden, Rei de Gado Brazilian Steakhouse, and UC San Diego Recreation.

Sponsorship packages are still available and offer sponsors a unique opportunity to increase brand awareness and exposure. The event provides an extensive media campaign that features email marketing, radio and TV ads, social media marketing and a number of other marketing outreaches.

Parade floats will be dressed with banners that include the names of all event sponsors. A sponsorship package also includes premium booth space during the event, company logo on the stage backdrop, company logo on event tee shirts, and company logo on the step and repeat banner. Admission is free to all.

About the Brazilian Days San Diego Festival
The Brazilian Days San Diego Festival will take place on September 8th, 2013 and will be held from 11 a.m. till 7 p.m. All proceedings will be held on Garnet Avenue at Pacific Beach and admission is free. This is a family friendly event that will not sell alcohol. Event promoters are offering three levels of sponsorship: Title Sponsor, Gold Sponsor, and Silver Sponsor. They are also offering exhibitor booths for artisans and local businesses who have a product or service to sell.

For more information, please visit: http://www.braziliandaysandiego.com/

Susquehanna Health at Grand Slam Parade

A strong supporter of Little League World Series baseball for the past 55 years, Susquehanna Health’s(SH) enthusiasm has reached new lengths as the health system unveils “Will M. Sport,” a 12-foot tall by 20-foot long balloon in the form of a sliding little league player at the Ninth Annual Grand Slam Parade on August 14.

The brainchild of the SH Marketing Department, the idea for this sliding slugger was conceived and developed in early spring, according to Referral Development Director Chris Ray. “Our medical staff works tirelessly behind the scenes, so we felt this project was the best way to demonstrate our pride in and support for the Little League World Series and the community in a visual way,” Ray said. The cold air inflatable balloon which weighs roughly 60 pounds is an original design developed to specifications that enable it to be maneuvered through downtown Williamsport.

SH partnered with Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BCNEPA) to bring the balloon concept to fruition. “Blue Cross was on board with this project from day one,” said Ray. The balloon was ordered in May and delivered in July. In the meantime, SH challenged its more than 4,000 service partners to enter a “Name the Little Leaguer” contest to give the sliding slugger his moniker. Ten contest winners who helped name Will M. Sport will team up with about 40 others representing SH Marketing, Williamsport Family Medicine Residency and BCNEPA to accompany the tethered giant along his first parade route.

Last week, Will M. Sport was introduced to SH service partners at each of the four hospital campuses from Williamsport to Muncy to Wellsboro, PA. Balloon spotters are encouraged on Susquehanna Health’s Facebook and Twitter pages to snap a photograph and post sightings for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card. Following the parade, Will will be on display across from the World of Little League Museum on Route 15 Highway, South Williamsport. A contest winner will be chosen August 26.

For more than five decades, SH has provided behind-the-scenes medical support in the grove, on the diamond and in the stands during the Little League World Series games. The SH medical team is a comprehensive package comprised of resident physicians from the Williamsport Family Medicine Residency program, SH Sports Medicine certified athletic trainers, SH Prehospital Services/Susquehanna Regional Emergency Medical Services and faculty and students from Penn College’s physician assistant, emergency medical services and paramedics programs.

Dr. John Boll, assistant director of the Williamsport Family Medicine Residency program, serves as medical director for the 2013 Little League Baseball World Series and supervises the team of medical professionals who provide healthcare to athletes, coaches and umpires in the event of illness or injury. SH Sports Medicine’s Dr. Edward Gusick also assists on the field.

Preparation for the World Series games begins months in advance with strategic planning meetings, medical supply inventories and health reports. As coaches and players arrive, onsite preparation is already in full swing. Once the games begin, EMS personnel, supervised by Medical Director Dr. Greg Frailey, are prepared to respond to ill or injured spectators in or around the grandstands and to transport patients to a medical facility when needed.

“Susquehanna Health is proud of our partnership with the Little League World Series. For 55 years, we have been providing big league medical care to the athletes, coaches and fans during the games,” said SH Musculoskeletal Services Administrative Director Sue Everett. “The Little League World Series is a family-oriented event that is important to the health of our community and we are pleased to provide support with comprehensive medical care.”

For more information on Susquehanna Health, visit susquehannahealth.org. To participate in the Will M. Sport social media contest, post a photograph of Will to Facebook or Twitter and tag @SusquehannaHealth in the photograph along with the hashtag #willmsport.

About Susquehanna Health
Susquehanna Health is a four-hospital integrated health system including Divine Providence Hospital, Muncy Valley Hospital, Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital and Williamsport Regional Medical Center located in north central Pennsylvania. Serving patients from an 11-county region, Susquehanna Health is a healthcare leader and has been recognized at the national and state levels for quality of care. Susquehanna Health offers a wide array of services that include cancer care, heart and vascular care/heart surgery, neurosciences including neurosurgery, orthopedics, urology, OB/GYN, gastrointestinal services, behavioral health, physical rehabilitation, home care, long term care, assisted living and paramedic/ambulance services.

Emerald Coast Poker Run Parade

The Emerald Coast Poker Run is one of the largest summer poker runs in the nation. It brings in locals and boaters from around the country to join the course with ten card stops from Destin to Pensacola. It will take off on August 14th at 10am and each stop offers a fun festival event. 

The run benefits several youth organizations and raises over $150,000 each year. Guests can enjoy a raft-up party at Crab Island on Saturday night and the poker run continues to Sunday, the 18th. 

On the 17th at 10am, The Back Porch Seafood and Oyster House will be hosting the “Paddle at the Porch” stand up paddle board race. There are two recreational races that will be one and three miles long, and a six mile elite race. Food and drinks will be available and awards will be given after the races.

At HarborWalk Village, Destin’s focal point for waterfront dining and entertainment, events continue to attract many visitors each week. Rock the Docks takes place every Saturday night from 7pm-9pm with live entertainment. Every Tuesday night throughout the summer, the Pardi Gras parade brings New Orleans flair to the Harbor. This free parade includes floats, beads, and the Village Brass Band playing live from 6pm-10pm. The 5th Annual “Flying High on the Harbor” takes place on August 24th and 25th with professional kite flyers and demonstrations. 

Visitors can bring their own kites and enjoy the sites from 10am-10pm each day. There will be stunt kite lessons, contests, and a Kites With Lights show that begins at sunset over Noriega Point. For Labor Day weekend festivities, there will be fireworks over the Harbor and live entertainment each night from Thursday to Sunday. Those visiting can enjoy performances by the Andy Velo Band and Danny Myrick. Overnight accommodations can be made in the Destin area at condo rentals nearby.

On August 14th, Chan’s Wine World and Sweetwater will host “Fish Fried”, a fundraiser for the Emerald Coast Waterkeeper. The event starts at 6pm and guests will enjoy beer tasting and a fried fish dinner. For wine enthusiasts, Wine World has wine tastings every Friday evening from 5pm-7pm. Cheese plates are available and discounts on cases of wine. There are two locations in Destin, one in the Commons and another in Grand Boulevard.

For more information, click here!

Toronto Caribbean Carnival

For Our Parade Slideshow, click here!

The 47th annual Caribana Toronto Festival offered hundreds of Caribbean inspired events, classes and parties to mark to this year's festival. Toronto's Caribbean Caribana festival has grown exponentially since its start in 1967 and is currently North America’s largest cultural festival. What was once a three-day event has now grown into three weeks of celebration, absorbing most of the city with its infectious feel-good vibes.

Over a million tourists were in Toronto during the last week of July to experience everything Caribana has to offer. The beauty of Caribana in Toronto is the varied audience it attracts: everyone from families across Canada and the U.S, young singles looking for a good time, to celebrities throwing Caribana themed parties in clubs across Toronto.

For details, click here!

Men In Kilts Fire Up the Edmonton K-Days Parade

Men In Kilts, Canada’s largest full-service window cleaning, gutter cleaning, siding cleaning, and pressure washing company, was seen driving its 33-year old fire truck, Wallace, through the streets of Edmonton Friday. Not to clean windows, rescue a cat, or hose down a fire, but to partake in the annual K-Days Parade.

Owners of Men In Kilts Calgary and Edmonton Chris and Robyn Carrier, lead their kilted team atop Wallace adding some much needed Scottish flair to the K-Days celebrations. They were heard and spotted a mile away with their Celtic music, kilts, giant Tartan fire truck, and crowd-appealing demeanor.

“We always love participating actively in the community and our kilt crew is a definite hit because so many of our customers and community members have Scottish heritage. Our company and brand is about having fun and bringing smiles to the world…one kilt at a time!” says Chris Carrier. “Our clan in Calgary just volunteered cleaning up the community after the High River floods. It’s nice to help the community out not only with celebrations like the K-Days, but also with serious issues too.”

Men In Kilts Calgary and Edmonton’s Marketing and Communications Specialist Emily Graydon thinks the exposure will be great saying, “It’s a great time of year to really get out and be visible in the community. When people see us, they can’t help but smile, and that makes me really happy! It definitely shows the community what Men In Kilts is all about.”

This is not the first parade of the summer for Men In Kilts. Men In Kilts Victoria participated in a Pride Parade earlier in July, and Men In Kilts Calgary took part in Airdrie’s Canada Day Parade.

So it will definitely be a site to see! Sure, it might be fairly typical to spot people wearing kilts, playing bagpipes, and highland dancing amidst a parade, but riding a huge Tartan fire truck with Men In Kilts who climb ladders is sure to be a showstopper. Fortunately, it was not breezy!

About Men In Kilts 

Men In Kilts was started in 2002 by Nicholas Brand, a Vancouver based Scotsman who fashioned a hand-sewn kilt and put a visual to the otherwise faceless window cleaner.

By 2009, the location had grown to over one million in revenue and caught the attention of Tressa Wood, former VP of Operations from 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Tressa joined the team as CEO and began the process of franchising the company. Men In Kilts now has locations across North America and plans to expand to every major metro by 2017.

Positioned to serve the growing demands of the multi-billion dollar cleaning and building maintenance industry, the Men In Kilts concept is about building a national brand that delivers an unparalleled level of professional service to both the residential and commercial markets.

For more information on Men In Kilts, or to see them in action, please contact Megan Nemeth at pr[at]meninkilts[dot]com or visit http://www.meninkilts.com.

Back to School Is More Than Crayons and Glue

Each year consumers are inundated with back to school advertisements starting in mid-July. Most of these ads focus on the students' needs such as clothing and supplies but administrators and teachers are also heading back to school, too. Schools from pre-K to collegiate level have varying needs throughout the school year for items not found on the traditional back to school list.

FlagandBanner.com has noticed that the needs of the educator are a little different depending on the age group involved or their educational niche. For the first time, FlagandBanner.com is offering a 15% discount to educators on in stock products and free art set up on custom orders. This discount will be available from July 29, 2013 until September 3, 2013.

Some examples of the type of different or unique items educators and administrators may be looking for are listed below:

History, social science or literature teachers, for example, often seek out posters with historical and educational facts that engage the students for their classroom walls. FlagandBanner.com recognized this need after talking with teachers and carries a line of educational posters for educators which the company plans to continue to expand on. If educators have specific ideas or requests for educational posters they can e-mail Kerry.McCoy(at)flagandbanner(dot)com with suggestions or even request custom posters.

Band directors may be looking for custom marching banners or hardware and parade accessories for the upcoming holiday parade season. These banners come in many styles and formats and are available with or without hardware packages.

School principals may not be on the hunt for glue sticks and writing paper but they may be seeking ways to direct traffic around the school pick up and drop off area for parents. One of the best ways to direct traffic is with string pennants. The pennants are easy to use for marking the pick up area. The pennants are eye catching and colorful and keeps staff from having to direct traffic.

School athletic directors or coaches may be looking for ways to make their teams stand out. One of the more popular options the last few years is using breakaway banners. In the past, paper banners were used but now players get to tear through vinyl banners with colorful images without waste. The banner uses hook and loop fastenings down the center allowing it to be put back together for the next game. Because of the great flexibility of breakaway banners their longevity and usefulness for other events make them a bargain for many school sports programs.

Another popular item for school athletic programs, high school or collegiate level, are spirit flags that can be used during events to rally teams and used as school identification at events.

School administrators, club advisors and others may also be looking for unique fundraising opportunities for their various programs. Many schools have been trying alternative fundraisers to the standard gift wrap and candy programs of the past. FlagandBanner.com has several fundraising options available for schools such as selling branded mascot gift items or selling American flags and flag kits.

ROTC sponsors may also be looking for parade accessories, or new or replacement parade flags and poles for the honor guard.

Over the last 15 years schools and universities have turned to custom street pole banners or other flags and banners for special events, special anniversaries, identification, campus beautification or directional needs for large campuses.

FlagandBanner.com is based in Little Rock, Ark., and has been in business since 1975. They have been selling flags, flagpoles, banners, pennants and home and garden décor online nationally since 1995.

For more information about the more than 22,000 products FlagandBanner.com offers, log on to FlagandBanner.com, become a fan on Facebook, or call one of their Flag Experts for answers to any and all questions about flags, banners, pennants and more at 1-800-445-0653.

Westfield HS Marching Bulldogs Win Prize

In its first appearance in the Fairfax City 4th of July Parade, the Westfield High School Marching Bulldogsof Chantilly, Virginia won a $4,000 prize for its showmanship and music. The prize money is just one more step in the Marching Bulldogs’ quest to raise at least $125,000 to cover the expenses associated with their trip to Pasadena, CA to march in the 2014 Rose Parade which is held prior to The Rose Bowl Game® each New Year’s Day. The parade is watched by approximately 1 million people along the parade route, a television audience of 57 million people in the US, and an estimated 350 million worldwide.

Westfield is only the 3rd Virginia public high school to be accepted to march in the 125 year history of the Rose Parade, and one of only 12 high school bands selected for 2014. According to Tournament of Roses® President, R. Scott Jenkins, there are over 25,000 high schools in the US, and the Rose Parade receives over 100 marching band applications each year. During his recent visit to Fairfax to officially invite Westfield to the parade, Jenkins said in an interview with Washington's NBC4 News Barbara Harrison“they are terrific... and we are thrilled to have them”.

Westfield trumpeter Glenn Turner said, “It’s a really big honor. There are not many bands that get to go to the Rose Parade. I watch it every year on TV, but I won’t in 2014 because I’ll be there!” The theme of this year’s parade is “Dreams Come True”. “It is truly an honor and a dream come true for these students to march in the 2014 Rose Parade. This is a huge moment for the school, community, and state,” said the band’s director, Stephen Panoff.

Westfield was selected by the Tournament of Roses in part due to its “Music for All” philosophy. The band represents the multi-ethnic community it serves and embraces the diversity of its musicians. Another reason the band was selected is that it regularly uses its talents to support charitable organizations in the community. Benefit concerts have been held for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Toys for Tots, and the Western Fairfax Food Bank.

Westfield will be sending 275 students to Pasadena, CA and faces a significant fundraising challenge. The band must raise $125,000 to cover the expenses associated with additional uniforms, instruments, and transportation of equipment across the country. This is in addition to the $1,600 students are paying to cover their own costs. “Ideally, we want to offset some or all of the cost of the students’ trip after covering our expenses which are not being passed on to the students. The support of individuals, businesses, and corporations is critical for making this dream come true,” said Panoff.

The band received endorsements for its application to the parade from Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and U.S. Senator Mark Warner. McDonnell said, “[The Westfield Marching Band is] an extraordinarily talented group of young men and women who will prove to be a wonderful sight to millions of people that have enjoyed the Tournament of Roses Parade year after year”. Likewise, Senator Warner said, “The Westfield Band program represents a diverse mix of ethnic and economic backgrounds and serves as a shining example of what can be accomplished when people from different backgrounds and cultures work together for a common goal”.

For more information on the Rose Parade, the WHS Marching Bulldogs’ upcoming performances, and ways to support the band's Sponsor-A-Dream! fundraising campaign, visit: http://www.WestfieldBand.org.

Sneak Peek of Days of '47 Floats

Parade fans got a sneak peek of Wednesday's Days of '47 KSL 5 Parade on Monday in air-conditioned comfort.

"What more could you ask for?" quipped parade committee member Cheri Colligan.

Floats were on display at the South Towne Expo Center Monday for spectators to take a closer look before the official parade. At the Okland Construction Float Preview Party, hundreds of children flitted around 30 floats doing scavenger hunts and admiring the glitter, symbols and various mechanical additions.

Sue Peebler comes to the Float Preview Party every year with her family.

"Even if we do the parade, as they go by you so fast you can't really see them as well," she said. "It's fun to look at the details."

The theme for this year's Days of '47 celebration is "Pioneers — Our Anchor for the Future," which was incorporated into the floats.

"I saw quite a few things that showed pioneers," said 10-year-old Rachel Fletcher. "I thought it was awesome because that's how Utah got started."

People cast their ballots for the People's Choice and the Children's Choice awards Monday and will continue to do so on Tuesday. The results will be revealed during the parade.

Aleah Hair, 7, said she liked the Bluffdale City float that had an elephant and a carriage.

"I like the elephant because it was pretty," she said.

Andi Wuthrich, 8, said she liked the futuristic Holladay South Stake float featuring missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and aliens. "Aliens are fun," she said.

Children flocked around the Salt Lake Olympus Stake float where they used a mini telescope to find various symbols located on the float.

Leslie Lorimer, committee chairwoman for the stake, said the float, a giant ship, was inspired by Brigham Young, who referred to the early LDS Church and its settlers as the "good ship Zion."

Atop the ship are a lion and a lamb looking forward with a telescope, a beehive complete with rotating bees, and an angel Moroni at the bow of the ship.

"We were committed to making it be what we had dreamed about as an opportunity to honor our pioneer heritage," Lorimer said. "It's a demonstration of faith and devotion."

Children also made their way to the Salt Lake East Millcreek Stake float topped with a working mill and a skunk that will lift its tail and spray spectators with water during the parade.

Doreen Yates, committee co-chairwoman for the float, said she stopped counting volunteer hours after getting into the thousands. Despite the countless time invested, Yates said their float will only be in the Days of '47 Parade.

"We're paying tribute to those in our community that got things started for us and made it such a beautiful place to live," she said. "And that's what makes it so worth it."

Jackie Miller, Sandy Cottonwood Creek Stake float chairwoman, said their float focuses on the Perpetual Education Fund set up by former LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley.

"There are things because of (the pioneer's) great sacrifices that are helping people all over the world," Miller said. "Our pioneers sacrificed, and we are the beneficiaries."

Many other LDS stakes were represented at the preview party as well as floats from the Utah Lutheran Schools, Wal-Mart, Primary Children's Medical Center, Chinese Society of Utah, Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.

The Float Preview Party will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and is free to the public. The parade begins Wednesday at 9 a.m. in downtown Salt Lake City.

To see all the floats, click here!

The Maine Lobster Festival Parade

GetMaineLobster.com, a Maine lobster and seafood delivery service delivering fresh Maine seafood from dock to doorstep, will participate in the Maine Lobster Festival Parade on August 3 at 10 a.m. (EST). The Maine Lobster Festival, which will be held from Wednesday, July 31 to Sunday, August 4, will be five days of feasting and fun for the entire family. Participants will be able to experience all that Maine has to offer with 20,000 pounds of Maine lobster, a sea goddess coronation, the big parade, an international crate race, cooking contests, a marine tent and more.

A variety of entertainment will keep the party going throughout the weekend with performances by David Cassidy, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Spin Doctors.

Seafood lovers won’t be able to miss Mark Murrell, founder of GetMaineLobster.com, during the big parade on August 3. Mark will cruise around in a red 1968 MGC convertible and will distribute coupons, candy, Get Maine Lobster dog tag bottle openers and more. Look for the GetMaineLobster.com team members wearing GetMaineLobster.com gear and carrying red balloons in celebration of everything Maine and lobster!

For more information about the Maine Lobster Festival, go to maineobsterfestival.com or call (207) 596-0376 or 1-800-LOB-CLAW. To volunteer, complete the form at mainelobsterfestival.com/volunteer.

To learn more about Get Maine Lobster’s wide range of seafood offerings, access lobster and seafood recipes, or to view current specials, go to GetMaineLobster.com or call (866) 562-4817. Stay updated and Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, and for even more lobster news, specials and recipes, go to JustAddLobster.com.

About GetMaineLobster.com
GetMaineLobster.com, a division of Black Point Seafood and Black Point Gourmet, hand-selects the finest Maine lobster, seafood and beef products for convenient distribution throughout the United States. Their passion is to make fresh, quality seafood readily available to customers across the country, which is why they buy from only the most trusted, well-established suppliers to ensure that they receive the finest products available

GetMaineLobster.com was selected out of the more than four million small American businesses served by Chase bank to represent its new Platinum Business Checking product for its 2013 national advertising campaign.

Join Us For The 2014 Rosebowl Parade

Talk about parades! Join us to experience the spectacular 125th Anniversary of the most widely-viewed parade on Earth, the Rose Parade. Held annually in Pasadena, California on January 1st (unless it is a Sunday), the Rose Parade attracts 1 million spectators to the parade itself, with tens of millions more watching from around the globe. 

Cartan Tours offers two unique, 4 night packages from December 29, 2013 to January 2, 2014. Each tour includes hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, a trip to the float construction barns, an L.A. city tour, and reserved grandstand seating at the Rose Parade. 

You can also attend the post-parade viewing of the floats or the 100th celebration of the Rose Bowl Game (these options do sell out, so book early.) 

After your Rose Parade tour, you can continue your California vacation with the choice of a one-day, private train excursion to Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo; or consider a 4 night extension to San Diego in the south or Wine Country in the north. Either of these options would be a great way to top off your Rose Parade experience!

For details, click here!