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62.

That’s how many entries took part in the 2009 Croakerfest Parade. Parade Master Paul Fairbank — who days earlier was a tad anxious about registration for the Saturday July 4 parade — was happy with the turnout.

Along the parade route — Broad, Hodges Streets and South Avenue – it seemed, Paul said, that the crowd size was up too, by as much as 25%.

Gulp! Green Fish (aka Leslie Dobbs-Alisopp with the Spinnaker Point Homeowners Association) ponders a kid snack during the Croakerfest Parade.

Croakerfest organizer Candy Bohmert estimates 8,000 – 10,000 people visited town for the Croakerfest weekend. (One sign: cars were parking on more streets than in other years.)

It wasn’t clear if the gills moved, but one fish was blowing bubbles.

Two big draws were the Saturday morning parade and the fireworks Saturday night.

The theme for this year’s Croaker Festival was Croaker Jamboree and the parade featured foam croakers, black velvet croakers, candy-throwing croakers and bubble-blowing croakers…and people.

Aboard the Pamlico County Democratic Women’s float, Grace Evans show her great-grand-daughter Katelyn how it’s done.

Juanita the mule hauls Bob Sanders who was on board the Sudan Mourners’ hearse.

Another clown in the Croakerfest Parade.( Ben Casey photo.)

Mozart the Hound (winner of the Pet Parade this spring) gets a pat from Dot Dunford as Dominic Brown tends to throwing kid treats from the PAWS (Pamlico Animal Welfare Society) float.

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Veteran Andra Green, among the servicemembers who would be leading the parade. Here, Andra and the other veterans assemble before the parade in front of Mac’s Mini Mart. ( Ben Casey photo.)

A yellow fish (a much-disguised Stan Kibbey) chewing on a foam hook.

Horse-drawn carriage from Fulcher’s stables.

Jason Nichols and co-pilot pup Chico guide the garbologist/St Baldrick’s vehicle along the parade route.

Jeff Troeltzsch and Hoosier aboard Southeast Pamlico VFD Station 19’s 1953 American LaFrance parade truck.( Ellen Troeltzsch photo.)

There was even a lone Lion’s Club lion spotted.

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Candy tosses are a big part of the parade. Here, Thelma and Louise fling the sweet stuff.

Of course, when candy’s thrown, kids scramble to gather it up.

A basket gives a distinct advantage in the candy gathering.

Stre-e-e-e-t-ch.

While candy rained down from some floats, another entry sprayed the crowd with water: Randy Jones, Pamlico County Ducks Unlimited Chairman, fires a wet one into the crowd while Hop Hudson scans the horizon and Matthew Jones and Steven Morris (obscured) interact with the crowd.

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Twins Alliana and Emma from Annapolis aboard the vessel “Miakoda” (which Alliana explained “means ‘power of the moon’ in American Indian”) guard the treasure chest raffled off by the Oriental History Museum.

Sigrid Overcash pilots the Bean Machine.

Cooligans: Coolers behind a mini trike.

Bead 123.

Camp Seafarer’s bus came through.

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Ray’s Creekside Marina and their Mercury.

Trucking up Broad Street in their 1976 Cadillac, the Oriental Steamer “Steamerettes”.

Grosvenor Barber pulled up to Parade Master Paul Fairbank on his scooter and asked, “Where is the parade?”. (Ben Casey photo)

As they have for 27 years, the Ladies of the Neuse, a sub group of the Oriental Woman’s Club, took notes and bestowed awards.

The Ladies of the Neuse: (l to r) Betty Nickla, Melissa Lavallee and Marguerite Garrett.

This year, the prizes took the form of black fabric croakers adorned with glitter and paint.

One of the prizes awarded in the 2009 Croakerfest Parade.

Among The Winners.

Having Fun With the Crowd – the Cooligans
Best Fun With a Fish – Minnesott Bait and Tackle
Best Ears on People and Pets – PAWS
Most Patriotic – John Bond
Best All Around – Mainsail Point
Best Camouflage and Sound Effect – Ducks Unlimited of Pamlico County
Best Summertime Theme – Paradise Shores Adventure
Grand Pooh-Bah – Spinnaker Point Homeowners Association

Posted Wednesday July 8, 2009 by Bernie Harberts