Culture

76 Trombones Led The Big Parade

by Barbara McPherson | May 19, 2008 at 06:24 pm

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Well, maybe not quite 76 trombones, but there were tubas and trombones and drums and pipes on the downtown streets of Nanaimo yesterday. The Empire Days association put on its traditional parade yesterday in celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday. Queen Victoria was in attendance. A picture never lies.

Numerous decorated floats and marching bands entertained the crowd. The kiltie boys and girls are a perennial favourite. No Nanaimo parade would be complete without inclusion of the famous bathtubs.

While the celebration is called Empire Days as a nod to the early Britons who settled here to work the coal seams, it is inclusive of other ethnic groups. This town still takes the crowning of the May queen seriously. The day ended with a display of fireworks at the harbour.

This was an example of small town Canada at its best -- moms, dads, kids and dogs all having fun in the sun.