Freeland Chamber of Commerce

2008 Harboside Parade Welcomes Spring

Nevertheless, from the 95 member Meridian Middle and High School Marching Band to Air Force fly overs, to people riding everything from horses to two-wheeled hogs to floats, parade participants from all over walked down Main street saying "hi" to friends, neighbors and strangers and, oh yes, "hello to spring, wherever you are."

Watch a slide show of the parade.

For the children along the parade route, the event was like Halloween, only better as entrant after entrant passed out candy to the crowd.

The parade ran more than 40 minutes, long enough for those in the front of the parade to join as spectators.

Prizes for the best entries in the parade are scheduled to be announced next week.

The Chiropractic Zone's Dr. Craig Weinston provided commentary to those gathered in front of the Freeland Chamber while Goosefoot's Marian Myszkowski DJ'ed the music track.

Representatives from many community groups fielded entries along with candidates for office for several levels of government.

The Chamber would like to thank the following people without whose help the parade would not have been possible:

Ace Hardware for loaning us garbage cans and getting a discount on bedding plants and pots to our parade participants and storefront decorating contestants

Diamond Rentals for providing porta-potties at no cost for the second year in a row

Linds Pharmacy for once again supplying balloon bouquets at a discounted rate, to parade participants and giving us balloons for our signage

Windermere Real Estate/South Whidbey for loaning us their sandwich boards

The Boy Scouts who rescued us by helping put up roadblocks

Whidbey Vision Care for their financial donation toward street signing

Whidbey Sea-Tac Shuttle for providing shuttle service

Dr. Crag Weinston from the Chiropractic Zone for emceeing the parade

Charley Moore from Cascade Properties and DJ's Unlimited for loaning his sound equipment

A very special "thank-you" to Jack Ng from China City, Cliff Bjork of Interstate label and Rick Gauger at Skagit Farmer's Supply for letting us use their parking lots.

The parade committee:

Charlona Sawyer from Creative Advertising Solutions

Lyn Gaustad from Whidbey Vision Care

Marian Myszkowski from Goosefoot

Susie Yielding from Sound Mortgage

Renatte Audette from our Chamber of Commerce/Visitor's Bureau

Our Advertisers

Ace Hardware

China City

Houdini's Billiards

Second Chance

Serious Auto Body

Sound Mortgage Group

State Farm Insurance

U.S. Bank


Whidbey Sea-Tac Shuttle


Whidbey Island Bank


Whidbey Retreats


Whidbey Vision Care