Routes Victoria

Today was Victoria Day and I went and watched the parade. I had a wonderful time talking to people from all over. I had some good conversations with a couple from Bellevue, Washington and a man from Oakland, California.

The parade starts around Mayfair Mall and goes down Douglas Street to Belleville at the Inner Harbour. I watched the parade just south of Fort Street. There were people as far as I could see up Douglas Street. Many people had folding seats and some had office chairs. I saw people watching from the rooftop patio at the Strathcona and from balconies at another hotel.

The parade started at 9 am but I didn't get there until 10. The last participant went by me at 1:10 pm. It was a long parade that became a little spread out by the time it got to where I was. According to the Times Colonist entries had to be turned away to keep the parade from getting too long.

The sun was shining and it was hot. There were people enjoying themselves. The floats and bands were great. What a perfect day for a parade.

---

My favourite part of the parade is watching the various marching bands. For this article I decided to list the bands that I had seen and could get names for. Where possible I included links to their websites.

Aberdeen High School (Bobcat Marching Band) - Aberdeen, Washington

Agassiz School Band, Agassiz, BC

Ballard High School - Seattle, Washington

Bellingham High School - Bellingham, Washington

Bremerton High School - Bremerton, Washington

Central Kitsap Cougars - Silverdale, Washington

Chief Sealth High School - Seattle, Washington

Chilliwack Middle School (Chargers) - Chilliwack, BC

Chimacum High School - Chimacum, Washington

Columbia River High School (Chieftains) - Vancouver, Washington

Evergreen High School Band - Seattle, Washington

Ferndale High School Band - Ferndale, Washington

Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band

Ingraham - Seattle, Washington

Issaquah High School - Issaquah, Washington

Kentlake Falcons - Kent, Washington - this band's theme was Mexican (sombreros and mariachi music).

Kingston Junior High (Cavaliers) - Kingston, Washington

Klahowya Marching Eagles - Silverdale, Washington

Klamath Union High School - Klamath Falls, Oregon

Lakewood High School - Lakewood, Washington

Lambrick Park Secondary School - Victoria, BC - this band had an electric guitar.

Marysville Pilchuck (Marching Tommies) - Marysville, Washington

Maxwell Bahai School - Shawnigan Lake, BC

Mount Baker Highlanders - Deming, Washington

Newport High School - Bellevue, Washington

North Vancouver Youth Band - North Vancouver, BC

Pitman High School - Turlock, California

Shorecrest Highlanders - Shoreline, Washington

Squalicum High School (Storm) - Bellingham, Washington

Sultan High School - Sultan, Washington

West Valley High School - Spokane, Washington


Parkland Secondary, Royal Oak Middle School, North Saanich Middle School, Bayside Middle School - these local schools formed one big band.

Not every band marched on foot. Victoria's Friends Of Music Society played music while riding in a double decker bus. The Hawgs played country music on the Gordon Head Lions Club float.