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Hundreds watch Tumwater parade on sweltering holiday

By Matt Batcheldor | The Olympian • Published July 04, 2009

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TUMWATER – Hundreds of people thronged Capitol Boulevard and Israel Road today for the city’s long-running annual July 4th parade.

Photo Gallery:

Tumwater Fourth of July Parade 2009

The fun started at Lee Street, and paraders continued down Capitol Boulevard to Israel Road, past City Hall, to Linderson Way.

Just before the parade officially began at 11 a.m., a convoy of classic cars delighted spectators, followed by the Motorcycle Drill Team from Tenino.

With a boom of a cannon, the parade was officially under way. The parade attracted both old and young, newbies and people who have seen it for decades.

Winston Cordis grew up in Lacey, but it was his first time at the parade. Cordis, an African-American, said the Fourth of July means independence and freedom.

“Because back in the day, you know, we were all slaves,” he said.

But the parade has been a tradition going back about 20 years for Nelson Insurance, owner Ron Nelson said. He parks a flatbed truck in front of his business on Capitol Boulevard, giving the people who sit on it an elevated front-row view of the festival.

“It’s a hometown family parade,” he said. “All the communities come.”

Tumwater Mayor Ralph Osgood, Olympia Mayor Doug Mah, Lacey Mayor Graeme Sackrison and Tenino Mayor Kenneth Jones were on hand, as well as state Reps. Gary Alexander and Sam Hunt and county commissioner Karen Valenzuela. Tumwater City Council members also attended.

“It really ought to be in Olympia and Tumwater,” said Jim Balz, who grew up in the area and returned later in life. “This is the capital of the state.”

He said he also would like to see a big fireworks show on Capitol Lake for the Fourth, instead of during Lakefair.

That said, he was enjoying the traditional parade with his daughter, Erika.

Logan Jacobsen, 9, of Olympia said the holiday meant fireworks and fun to him. He enjoyed seeing the police cars and looked forward to shooting fireworks off in the evening.

For some, the parade was personal. Brenda Lash of Lacey was there to see her granddaughter, Ariel Collins, on the Lakefair float.

“We couldn’t miss that,” she said.