Locals, visitors enjoy Bayview Daze
<p>Blake Williams shouts out to the crowd during the parade at Bayview Daze on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Military Order of the Cootie of the United States drives down Main Street during the Bayview Daze parade Saturday.</p>
<p>Derek and Taryn McCollum, of Hayden, brought their three children Nathan, 3, Jack, 2, and Allie, 1, to Bayview Daze Saturday. The family recently moved to North Idaho from California.</p>
<p>Evan Burgher and Kara Tharaldson, both of Orange County, Calif., showed their patriotism Saturday during Bayview Daze.</p>
<p>Darla Walton of Spokane and her year and a half old dog Lulu attended their first Bayview Daze Saturday. Walton was a vendor at the event selling T-shirts.</p>
BAYVIEW - Bayview Daze could very well be called Family Daze. It's a family friendly event, and because of that it keeps growing every year.
Town residents and visitors flocked to the event Saturday, with a parade, street fair, carnival and fireworks.
"It's been a really fantastic experience in small town America," said Evan Burgher, of Orange County, Calif. "It's nice to blend in with the locals."
Although he wasn't exactly blending in, with some tiny red lifeguard shorts and an American flag-painted tank top with matching headband.
"The Fourth of July is our favorite holiday," said Burgher's fiancee, Kara Tharaldson.
"We come up with a different outfit every year," he said.
It was their first time in Bayview, and a chance to get together with family.
"The Captain's Wheel is pretty phenomenal," Burgher said. "You really can't beat the marina and the boating. I'm really excited for the fireworks show tonight."
Locals love the visitors, said 18-year resident Dean Jordan, who was having a drink at JD's bar.
"When it comes to Bayview Daze, we all pull together," he said.
He said the event used to be more wild.
"Now it's more of a family atmosphere," he said. "It's getting to be more and more for the kids."
Which is fine, he said. That's what makes the event grow.
Couple Sam and Bambi Marshall, of Sandpoint, celebrated Bayview Daze for a second time this weekend.
"We love all the friendly people and good food," Sam Marshall said. "They have the most beautiful harbor on Lake Pend Oreille. There's just a great hometown ambiance."
There were plenty of kids and families in town Saturday.
Derek and Taryn McCollum of Hayden brought their three children, Nathan, 3, Jack, 2, and Allie, 1, to Bayview for the first time. They just moved to North Idaho from California in March.
Taryn McCollum said a friend told her about it, saying it is a great event for families.
"It just sounded like something really great to bring the kids to," she said.
The McCollums missed the parade after some chickens at home broke free, so they got a late start.
But when they arrived they grabbed some hotdogs and toys.
"We'll just cruise around for the rest of the day, and watch the fireworks tonight," Derek McCollum said. "We're looking forward to it."
T-shirt vendor and Spokane resident Darla Walton loves the crowd. Business really picked up Saturday, compared with Friday, she said.
"It is busy - a great crowd, everybody's nice and honest," said Walton.
She had never been to Bayview before, even though she grew up in Spirit Lake.
"It's beautiful," she said.
She took a break from T-shirt sales and ate a pulled pork sandwich.
"First time I ever had cole slaw on pulled pork," she said. "It was great."
She brought her 1 1/2-year-old deer-head Chihuahua, Lulu.
Lulu loves pink, said Walton, who was dressed in all pink, including a pink hat.
"She has white bones and pink bones," Walton said. "She'll only chew on the pink ones. She's a girl."
Walton definitely will back next year for Bayview Daze, she said.
"Even if I don't make a lot of money, I like being here," she said.