Bayview Daze a centennial celebration
BAYVIEW - The colors red, white and blue were shown proudly all around town Saturday during the Bayview Daze street parade.
Flags whipped along in front of and behind trucks, cars and motorcycles. Streamers adorned vehicles. There were patriotic banners, fringe and bunting.
Beards and mustaches were painted red, white and blue. People sported American flag shorts, shirts, hats, wigs, and Hawaiian leis.
Vicky Richardson, queen of Bayview, wore a striped sash to go with her white gown.
Even clowns got into the patriotic fervor.
Dogs there - in great numbers - weren't outdone. They strutted around with flag handkerchiefs.
Bayview is celebrating its centennial this year, and that was the parade's theme. Most people were there to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and take in the firework show.
The parade included a lot of classic vehicles, including military trucks and jeeps.
Almost everyone passing by in the parade tossed handfuls of candy to youngsters along the parade route on Main Avenue. Kids walked away with sacks full of sweets.
"It's just exciting here," said Jim Shepperd, 83, of Coeur d'Alene. "I've been wanting to come out here for years" to attend the parade.
Shepperd, a veteran, had a red, white and blue mustache. He marched in the Coeur d'Alene Fourth of July parade for 50 years as part of the VFW.
He said he really enjoyed all the classic cars in Saturday's parade.
"I liked it all really," he said.
Friends Sharon Hahn and Ruth Wolter, both visiting from Gaylord, Minn., were out watching the parade.
"I get a kick out of" Richardson, the queen of Bayview, said Wolter.
Richardson said it's her third year in the position.
Wolter's son-in-law and daughter, Scott and Jeanne Bjergo, operate the Bayview Mercantile.
The mercantile was bustling as shoppers arrived on foot, by car and ATV to pick up stockpiles of beer, pop, and ice.
Hahn said she enjoys visiting Bayview with its steep, green mountains, deep, cool lake and friendly and happy people.
The two friends were headed to The Floating Patio after the parade to cool off with some drinks.
"It's so much fun to sit there, right on the water," Hahn said.
"We're going to have lunch, beer, and a drink," Wolter said.
Several dozen vendors were open for business Saturday as part of the Street Bazaar. They will be there today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The vendors were selling clothes and accessories, massages, bird houses, temporary tattoos, crafts, kettle korn, baked goods, and barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs. There were other items available, too.
Live music was rocking at Jd's.
Kids were able to climb aboard camels for a ride and participate in other fun activities.