A festival of Havre

Fifth Avenue was teeming with people Saturday morning as local residents came out en masse to watch a parade that for 35 years has been the heart of Festival Days, an annual celebration of Havre life and culture.

Spectators of all ages were out. Older folks wrapped in blankets lining sidewalks, and children sitting on curbs rushing to scoop up handfuls of candy thrown out by parade marchers. Others were sitting on lawn chairs flanking the streets or standing in scrums while aiming cameras and smartphones at the procession. The parade started down Fifth Avenue at 10 a.m., gradually making its way to the right turn onto 4th Street at the corner where the Bullhook Community Health Clinic and city hall are located.

Danielle Fachner is a Havre native who has watched the parade every year since she was a child. She said the parade has a unifying effect on the city.

"I think it gets all of us together," said Fachner, who was sitting on the lawn by the side of the road with her son, nephew, sister and mother. "It's a good thing because we don't have much in town that brings everyone together."

When some watch the parade entrants, such as the Havre High School cheerleaders, antique cars and floats, slowly pass by they think of parades past.

For those watching, the parade is about to begin, but for those participating it is all the culmination of weeks and in some cases months of planning, labor and rehearsals.

An hour before the marching started, marchers were scrambling to put the finishing touches on their floats mounted atop flatbed trailers. Young cheerleaders practiced their cheers as the clarinets and saxophones of band members in their black and blue uniforms glistened in the sun of a new day.

Emergency vehicles as well as tractors and combines were parked nearby ready to be activated.

Northern Montana Hospital's float for example, consisted of a large, mock pocket watch, its hands pointed at images of different Northern Montana Health Care facilities. An image of the train station as well as the old post office on 3rd Avenue found their way onto the face of the clock.

Julianne LaSmith, the marketing and public relations coordinator for Northern Montana Health Care, said as an entity that serves and takes pride in Havre, they contribute to the parade every year.

"It's important to Havre, and Havre is important to us," said LaSmith.

Many area businesses see the parade as a chance to promote themselves.

"The audience is huge. You can't pass it up" said Shaylee Lewis who, along with her husband, own Lewis Heating and AC. Their float consists of a flatbed trailer attached to a pickup truck that featured a banner adorned with their company logo and a series of air conditioning and heating units.

"You've just got to be a part of it," she said.

Local organizations, such as We are Autism, a support group for parents, and Youth Dynamics, a nonprofit that aims to help families of children who have behavioral and emotional issues, hope participation will raise their profile and awareness of causes they champion.

One need not have a float however to have a presence. In lieu of having a float this year, Kristi Parrotte, co-owner of Physical Therapy Down Under, is walking the parade route pulling her tea cup Yorshire terrier Sadie in a small child's wagon filled with granola bars and other snack foods. She was unable to enter a float this year because much of her staff was out of town for the weekend. Still, she wanted to make sure she had a presence.

"It's our one time of year we can get our face out there and tell the community thank you for supporting us and being there for us," said Parrotte.

The Bullhook Bombshells, a Havre-based roller derby team, were clad in black and sporting matching tutus streaked with neon and matching fake dreadlocks connected to their helmets.

Amber Wells, head of the group, said roller derby emphasizes creative expression, making the parade a perfect fit for the Bombshells.

Restored antique vehicles are also a hallmark of the parade. Bill Bilger with the North Central Shrine Club sat in the passenger seat of a vintage ambulance with the club's insignia adorning the front doors. The group drives it in the parade each year. He says he thinks there are more entrees with each passing year.

"They're long, they have a lot of good floats and stuff in it, said Bilger. "It's a lot of fun to go in 'em. It just It just takes a little longer than normal to get down the street anymore."

After the parade, among the spectators on the roadside was Peggy Teel. She reminisces about the earliest years, when this annual ritual was still in its infancy. It was back when the event was known for fireman water races or bed races, where teams of four would race a rolling bed down the street with three pushing and one lying on the bed.

"It was just a lot of fun," she said.