2016 July 30, Saturday, Strut Parade @ the W.C. Handy Festival

At 9:30AM I was sitting on the steps of the First Baptist Church located on Tuscaloosa Street. 
The W. C. Handy Street Strut Parade began at 10:00AM. 

The police officers blocked the roads from traffic at 10:00AM.  
A couple of motorcycle policemen lead the parade. 

Strut Parade 

As the parade passed I saw beaded necklaces, moon pies, bags of peanuts from Texas Roadhouse, & candy thrown to the bystanders of the parade. 
In the parade, I saw people holding purple and yellow umbrellas from UNA. 
The grand marshall was holding a purple, yellow, and green umbrella. He was dressed in a yellow dress jacket, white pants, and a purple shirt. 
Riding in a bright yellow small Convertible was the BIG RED DOG. 

A burnt orange and a solid black Corvette followed. 

The Shoals' marching twirlers, dressed in white shirts and burgundy shorts followed.
They were followed by several young women carrying fancy umbrellas.
Riding in an open trolley, waving to the crowd were some older women. 

They were followed by Miss Bronze Queen 2016 and Miss Jr Bronze Queen. 
There was a group of people wearing yellow T-shirts that read, re-elect Mickey Haddock for mayor.

Walking alone was a woman wearing a red and white dress, on her head, she wore a black and white feathered hat that shaded her face. Her hands were covered in red lace gloves. In her right hand, she held an umbrella and in her left hand, held high, she had a fan sign, that read Vote for Holt.

Vote Holt!

The Stewart Family were wearing light green T-shirts that read Reunion, Rooted July 29-31 New vines.

A small bus from Christ Chapel was followed by a group of people carrying multi-colored flags. 
Some were wearing red T-shirts, while others were wearing white T-shirts that read "YAHSHUA".

A man was throwing MOON PIES to the crowd, he was riding in a Volkswagen covered in pink and blue balls. 
Followed by a Camaro.

A burgundy truck with a sign that read Burrell-Slater High School Class of 1966, was pulling a float with a mural of Burrell-Slater High School. 
The fire truck lagged behind, he was waiting on the Lee High School Marching band, which was late arriving.

Alongside the road were vendors with freshly squeezed lemonade.

I had never been to a street strut parade.
I love parades of all kinds. 


What is a strut? It is to walk with a vain, pompous bearing, with head erect and chest thrown out as if expecting to impress observers. 
To Strut one's stuff, to dress, behave, and perform, at one's best to impress others, to show off.

The parade lasted less than ten minutes. When the parade ended I walked through Wilson Park, where a band was getting ready to play.
I did not stop because I was going to the Library.