Key parade

Hugh McMillan

Special to the Gateway

Folksy floats, marchers, horseback riders and many others participated in the Krazy Key Parade and Summer Family Fun Day last Saturday in Key Center.

The parade began on the Key Peninsula Highway near the headquarters of the Key Peninsula Fire Department in Key Center and included an ancient fire engine, a Conestoga wagon, the Pierce County Library “drill team” and representatives of a gaggle of KP organizations.

At 10 a.m., the mile-long movement to the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn began to the cheers of onlookers all along the way.

In addition to the tossing of candy to kids on the street, a Key Pen Parks crew tossed out packs of microwaveable popcorn to encourage attendance at the Friday night outdoor movies at Volunteer Park.

The civic center grounds were burgeoning with booths that offered an endless collection of goodies.

Two large bouncing toys delighted kids, and a petting zoo, horses and a fish tank were available for entertainment.

Tasty hamburgers with all the works, hotdogs, bratwurst, ice cream, other munchies and soft drinks were gobbled up by the hungry crowd.

Outside, Neal Larson of Lakebay Orchard Hill Farms stirred a cauldron of tantalizing kettle corn, which was savored throughout the fairgrounds.

Even the Farmers’ Market held forth its offerings.

And even the weather cooperated: not hot, not cold. Just right.