Saturday, July 15 dawned with harmless clouds that, by mid-morning, yielded to blue sky and mild temperatures - right weather for a footrace and parade.
This year's Crown of Queen Anne Fun Run/Walk, which benefits the Queen Anne Helpline, featured nearly 250 participants and raised more than $5,000.
Those who have grown accustomed to the colorful cast of runners and walkers were not disappointed.
There were barefoot runners from California, families running or walking together, personages sporting funny hats, kids and seniors, strollers and leashed dogs and some highly focused runner types....
Walkers set out at 8 a.m.. from Fifth Avenue West and West Halladay. Runners took off 20 minutes later with Seattle Police Department motorcycle cops leading the way. More than 40 community volunteers monitored the intersections along the 3.3-mile course, which ended at Coe Elementary School.
After the race an awards ceremony and random drawing for prizes among race participants took place on the lawn of Queen Anne Lutheran Church hosted by former Queen Anne News editor Jack Arends. Numerous yard sales sprang up nearby for the occasion.
First-place male Chris Charles clocked in at 17.27. First-place female Kerry Ash crossed the finish line at 24.33.
Kelly Madden, 9, was the winner in the under-12 female category. Graham Garratt, 11, took first in the under-12 boys category. Seven-year-old Ben Nielson of Boulder, Colo., had been mistakenly identified as the first-place boys winner; Ben was the youngest runner to finish, though. The Helpline is sending him a keepsake. A first-place trophy will be given to young Mr. Garratt.
David Danbom, 71, was awarded the prize for oldest to finish, and Dan Evans (not the Dan Evans) finished first among walkers.
Then came the parade.
Suzanne McCallum of the Queen Anne Helpline herded kids, dogs, vehicles, marching bands, bikes and trikes into a sort of column in the McClure Middle School parking lot.
Somehow the assemblage flowed out of the parking lot onto the street at 11:30, right on time. Leading the way were Boy Scout Alexander Beaumont, 12, of Queen Anne Presbyterian Troop 72. He carried the Stars and Stripes while Nick Saether, 11, bore the Troop 72 colors.
The energetic All City Marching Band followed close behind.
The parade offered up some unique visuals.
A call had gone out from George An-drade of Edward Jones for pug dogs: This was their day to march. Preceded by a Pug Scout banner, a phalanx of 14 pugs - many sporting bandanas, not a few straining at the leash - passed by the reviewing stand in more or less good order.
There were strollers with balloons, bicycles, wagons, the Greater Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce and HomeStreet Bank crews carrying their banners and the Ballard Eagles Drill Team marking time with their boots. The cast from a professional dating service rode in an open yellow VW with a bunch of soft-drink cans tied to the back bumper. "Be sure to recycle," a male parade watcher called out. The Crafty Ladies, who make crafts for charity, brought up the rear.
The parade ambled its own sweet way to the Queen Anne Community Center playfield where a community barbecue and games for the kids lasted till 2 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
