With a touch of the past as a Harvard flew over the route, thousands of people lined the parade route in downtown Red Deer on Wednesday morning.
The weather turned terrific as the first official day of Westerner Days kicked off with the parade that included everything from a special centennial float marking the city’s 100th anniversary, a bull-riding cowboy, red-serged Mounties, red-hatted politicians, music and, of course, balloons and more balloons.
The Harvard saluted the city’s centennial, as in the 1950s and ’60s it was traditional to see one fly over the parade.
Action turns to Westerner Park now through to Sunday as the annual Westerner Days is well underway with the midway, fair food to die for, the pony chuckwagons and plenty or acts and other entertainment.
The forecast for the next four days is generally sunny and hot, which could make for another record attendance. Last year, Westerner Days hit a record 102,665 visitors.