Carnival Parade

Tom, Ross and I had our morning coffee at the house and then ventured off to Pilgrim Bark Park for another round of ball play with BuddyJack & Luther.

We played for a while and then drove over to Far Land Provisions, a local general store offering anything you may need while visiting or living in Provincetown.  It is owned by Jim Farley and Tom Boland, who actually live next door to Ross.  I had known them since moving to Provincetown and was pleased that they were working that morning.

We had wanted a small bite to eat and they have a bakery and deli on premises.  We ended up ordering a bagel and as we cashed out, I started talking to Jim.  I was pleasantly surprised when he told me that his father lived one block away from US Route 6 in Illinois.  He jotted down the address and made a few notes about the area and we promised to stop at his boyhood home when we traveled back West.

We were fortunate to be staying at Ross' as the parking for this day is horrendous.  We were able to get back to his house and start preparing for the day in very short order.  I had to get in my Parade Marshal shirt and hat and Tom, who was asked to work security at Pepe's, had to get an outfit for the day.

Ross said not to worry about the dogs.  He could handle them OK.  So, off we went.  The crowds had been arriving all day and the streets and sidewalks were getting filled with boisterous families, drag queens and locals.  The restaurants on Commercial Street had their tables full, just waiting for the annual parade of floats and groups.

My job, as Parade Marshall, was to keep people off the streets as the parade was passing by.  Not an easy task as the sidewalks, in places, could not hold a crowd more than two deep.  My area was outside Pepes and also had the judges area in it.  Tom set up a small table and chair and margarita next to the stairs of the upper deck at Pepe's.  His job was to ID all people going up and to make sure they were over the age of 21.  I went between the street and Pepe's through the crowds regularly, checking on the people, many of whom in "costume" for this years theme, "Can't Stop the Music."

Hair Hoppers of Ptown

Them are Beads!

The parade started at 3:00 PM, on the far end of Commercial Street.  It always took a long time to for it to get to the center of town.  I had the opportunity to see a few faces I remembered, including Irene Rabinowitz, Director of Helping Our Woman, one of the local non-profits in town.  She was our former neighbor and we spent a few minutes chatting as she was settling into the judges area.

The crowds were getting big and boisterous and then Roger told me that the parade was coming in soon to our area.  I started to politely asking people to move towards the sides of the road.  Most people listened and heeded.  Others paid no mind.

I tend to get very rigid during these types of duties and today was no different.  Move or else!  It was not going to work any way I handled the situation, so I gave up.  Until the parade comes, they are going to do what they going to do.  Just Breathe.  Aahhh.

I could see the parade coming down the road as the police drove their motorcycles down the parade route spreading the crowds out.  The first car had the Grand Marshal, Charo.  Yes!  Charo!  She had performed the night before in town hall and did her "cuchi coo" for the fans.

Charo and an Ill-placed Policeman

The Hat Sisters

Miss Richfield

Mark Jacobs Float of Huge Rollerskate with Engine

More Queens of the Desert

Just Another Parade

The parade went by and the crowds began to disperse, following the exhaust of the last float.  The streets were filled with broken beads and paper confetti as well as glitter and handouts.  I had always been amazed that by tomorrow morning, all of the trash would be cleared away as if the event never happened. 

It was late afternoon and I was hungry.  I tried to follow behind the parade in the hopes of getting a hot dog or something else to snack on.  I slid through the crowds and eventually found myself at one local food store.  $6 Dog!  No way!  Remember, I'm cheap.  I turned around and looked for a cheaper dog.  Provincetown is not a cheap place to vacation or eat, but I was on a mission.  I eventually found a $3 dog on the pier and sat back and relaxed.

I headed back to Pepe's and checked on Tom and the rest of the crowd working.  They were busy!  Busy!  They had the seats, but a kitchen can only push out so much food.  Fortunately, there was a mistake in the kitchen and a plate arrived for us to nibble on.  Yum!

View of the Harbor from Pepe's Wharf

The crowds thinned out and Tom was released from his duties and we began to enjoy the carnival evening.  We had a large table by the entrance to Pepe's and all settled in for cocktails and revelry.

Miro in his Outfit

Miro & Deb (Love her beads!)

Hostess with Style

Tom and I walked downtown to see what was happening around town.  We were both pretty tired from the day and the evening before, so we avoided the crowds of Commercial Street and headed up the hill to the Porch Bar for a night cap. Greg, the manager, was not tending bar yet, but bought our first round.  I have always enjoyed Greg as a bartender and as a conversationalist.  We have often talked politics, town issues and at times a bit of gossip.  We chatted for a bit before heading back down the hill to Commercial Street.

The streets had changed from families to a more adult crowd.  Some people were walking with a slur.  Others were headed to a few different bars, keeping the carnival going.  We strolled the streets watching the people, occasionally walking through the bustling clubs that were not charging cover charges.

We were heading out of town the following day, so we stopped into Pepe's to say good bye and thank you to everyone that had been a part of our few days back in Ptown.  Dwayne, Astrid, Miro and the rest of the crew were hanging downstairs, enjoying a last cocktail of carnival.  We said our good nights and walked home to the dogs.