Lakefair parade features royal court, an award-winning float and Seattle Seahawks’ Blitz
It was glitz, glam and all things Seahawks when the Lakefair parade started rolling up Capitol Way on Saturday.
More than 60 groups from all across Thurston County, Washington state and the Pacific Northwest marched in the parade, one of Olympia’s oldest continuing traditions.
And while there were no blimps at this year’s parade (this reporter misheard that information), the Seattle Seahawks’ very own Blitz made a special appearance.
Lakefair co-president Larrel O’Keefe said this year’s ‘Roaring Good Time’ float, the festival’s own entry, has already taken home several awards, including from Pierce County’s Daffodil Festival in April.
“It’s been really exciting to have a float that we’ve… won so many events. The very first parade we did was Daffodil… and we won grand sweepstakes,” she said.
O’Keefe has worked with Lakefair for 16 years now, and she said her favorite part is giving back to the community.
“I just do community stuff. … I grew up here in Olympia, and I always wanted to be one of those people in a blue jacket, so here I am now,” she said. “I can’t believe I’ve been at this for, like, 16 years.”
Meet a few members of this year’s royal court
For Lakefair queen Aisha Kamboj of Tumwater High School, and Lakefair princess Ellie Brown of Capital High School, gathering the community has also been a highlight of their time this week.
The royal court — which also includes Carmela Parascand of Black Hills High School, Jazzlyn Shumate of Rainier High School, and Jayleen Totten of Rochester High School — has been staying together and attending Lakefair events since the festival kicked off on Wednesday.
“So we’ve all been staying together for the past five days, and we’ve been able to attend Lakefair events, which has been really exciting,” Kamboj said before the parade began. “And this is our hometown parade, so I’m looking really forward to that.”
According to Brown, “The best part has been being able to step out in the community and see all these people and have an event that brings everybody together. … And then, of course, getting to stay with these lovely ladies and getting to know them so much better.”
Olympia’s diversity is also cause to celebrate, according to Kamboj.
“I think Olympia is a really close knit community. We all come from different parts, but being in one city … we all get to bring so many parts and create a diverse community.”
Both Kamboj and Brown will be seniors in high school next year.
Kamboj participates in HOSA, a nationwide health professionals club, at Tumwater High. In addition to attending the HOSA state conference next year, she also has been a dancer for 12 years. After graduation, she hopes to attend a four-year college to study public health on the pre-med track.
Brown is an International Baccalaureate (IB) student at Capital. She plays soccer and basketball and was on the track team for some time. Off the court and away from the field, she is president of the archery club, vice president of the National Honor Society and vice president for the senior class. On top of all that, she is also in band. Brown hopes to attend a four-year college to study psychology.
“As somebody that does a lot in my community already, sports, all that fun stuff, being able to represent my school, and in turn, my community, means a lot to me,” she said.
This story was originally published July 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM.