The big day for the 2011 Waterland Parade is this Saturday, July 23rd, and it looks like it’ll be a doozie – with the Seafair Clowns, Seafair Pirates, Miss Seafair and her princesses, a Children’s Parade with the Red Robin leading it and much more, all starting at the Yardarm area on Marine View Drive around 5:45 p.m.

The Waterland Parade is a 1.8-mile parade that goes right through the heart of Des Moines, and attendance is projected to be somewhere between 5,000 – 10,000 viewers. It begins at S. 240th and ends at 216th along Marine View Drive.

In addition, a Classic Car & Wooden Boat Show will be held on the same day at the Des Moines Marina, as well as the usual Farmers Market taking place in the Marina’s South lot (for more information, visit our sister site The Waterland Blog).

The Des Moines Food Bank will also be collecting non-perishable food donations and cash near the Yardarm, so please consider donating what you can!

The Seattle Cossacks Drill Team motorcycles will rev things up with a pre-parade demonstration starting at 240th and Marine View Drive, then performing at various intersections to 216th Street.

So get on down to your charming southerly-neighboring waterfront town and enjoy this fine community event – just be sure to get there early to get a good seat!

Here’s the lineup order as of Friday, July 22nd:

1. Honor Guard
2. Earline Byers, Grand Marshall
3. Clark Snure, Grand Marshall
4. Anna and Bj Bjorneby, Directors of Parade
5. Fran Woodward, Co-Director
6. Karen Keiser, State Senator
7. Tina Orwall, State Representative
8. Dave Upthegrove, State Representative
9. Bill Bryant, President, Seattle Port Commission
10. Bob Sheckler, Mayor of Des Moines
11. Melissa Musser, City Council Member
12. Matt Pina, City Council Member
13. Bradley Hawthorne, President, Destination Des Moines
14. Winners of the Car Show
15. Miss Seafair and Princesses
16. Float: Seafair Commodores
17. Kennedy Catholic High School Band
18. Poverty Bay Festival
19. Des Moines Farmers Market
20. Des Moines Lions Club Santa
21. Equestrian Family (Horse & Buggy)
22. Float: West Seattle Hi-Yu
23. Ballard Drill Team
24. Ron Kinney, Antique Car
25. KeyStone Cops
26. Judson Park
27. Airport Towing
28. The Hi-Liners
29. Lincoln Pink Toe Truck
30. Seafair Clowns
31. Wesley Homes
32. Float: Marysville Strawberry Festival
33. Bjorneby’s CarStar
34. Washington Diamond Drill Team
35. Graham Trucking (Hydroplane)
36. Seafair Pirates
37. Last of the Tin Can Sailors
38. Float: Port Orchard
39. Melanie Dance Unlimited
40. SW Fire Department Engine
41. CleanScapes
42. Seafair Marshalls

Also, the Kennedy Catholic High School Band and the Keystone Cops have signed up to entertain. They’ve also got a few floats and that famous pink toe truck from Lincoln Towing……and now they want you! (NOTE: The Mt.Rainer High Band will not be performing, but there will be lots of students volunteering).

If you’d like to enter your business, organization or special float or antique car, click here for application forms.

Fax it to Anna Bjorneby, the director of the Waterland Parade at 206-824-4733.

For more information contact:

Anna Bjorneby
Cell: 206-571-5568
Work: 206-824-4731
abjorneby@aol.com

or

Katy Reynolds
206-870-7675
parade@destinationdesmoineswa.org

Registration is free, but they are accepting $20 donations to help support the 2011 and future Waterland Parades!

The Waterland Parade is a Seafair-sanctioned parade which started in Des Moines in 1959.

He also sneaked in a few photos from the bicycle race that took place prior to the parade.

You can click on individual images to view them bigger.

REMINDER: Burien’s 90th Annual Independence Day Parade will start at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 4th (we’re Media Sponsors), and the weather peeps are calling for “mostly sunny, with a high near 74″ so it should be a perfect day for truly local patriotism!

The parade, presented by the City of Burien and the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce, will begin at 3 p.m. at the intersection of Ambaum Blvd. SW and SW 149th Street, then will head south on Ambaum, east on SW 153rd, north on 4th Ave. SW, then west on SW 152nd.

It runs for approximately two hours, putting it at a convenient time before all the barbecuing and fireworks begin.

To download a Map to plan your view, click here for a PDF file, or scroll down for a graphic.

To whet your parade appetite, here are a few things this year’s spectators have to look forward to:

• Grand Marshal Georgette Valle!
• Burien City Councilmembers!
• Belly Dancers!
• Antique Autos!
• Robots! (and their keepers)
• Ronald McDonald on a Segway!
• The Keystone Kops!
• The HOGS!
• BMX Bikes!
• Santa!
• Clowns!
• A Chinese Dragon!
• Drill teams, marching bands, floats, elected officials, community groups and more!
• More special entries will be announced by the Chamber, and of course, there may be some surprises on the actual day!

Burien City Councilmember Rose Clark notes:

“Since my childhood I have loved Fourth of July parades. Flags waving, bands playing and people just having fun together. It doesn’t get better than that. We’ve been doing that in Burien for over 90 years. It is fun to work on, fun to oversee and fun to present right here in Burien. I hope to see people standing shoulder to shoulder just enjoying the day.”

Downtown Burien boasts an eclectic and charming mix of business, retail and restaurants, as well as a strong sense of community pride. The relatively new Burien Town Square and City Hall form an impressive backdrop for the downtown “skyline.” People have FUN in B-Town! Everyone is invited to come and be a part of this longstanding Burien tradition. Make it your own tradition in 2011!

The Burien Independence Day Parade is sponsored by:

• The Boeing Company
• Burien Toyota
• Car Pros Burien Nissan
• Fred Meyer
• Highline Medical Center
• Puget Sound Energy
• Seahurst Dental Design/Jim Coleman, DDS

Partners for this event are:

• City of Burien
• Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce
• Burien/White Center Rotary Club

Media partners are The B-Town Blog and Highline Times.

Here’s a map of the parade route (click here to download your own PDF version):

Click image to see larger version.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• SLIDESHOW: Sights And Sounds From Burien’s Independence Day Parade
• Our First-Hand Account Of Being In The 4th Of July Parade
• PHOTOS: Scenes From Burien’s 4th Of July Parade

The 4th of July is just a week away, and what better way to celebrate it than by attending Burien’s 90th

We’re proud to be Media Sponsors, and we’re looking forward to a hopefully-gorgeous summer day where magical moments will turn B-Town’s streets into a truly great, red, white and blue American tradition. Patriotic music will fill the air, as colorful floats drift idyllically down the recently-paved, smooth streets. Esteemed veterans will proudly salute the American flag, beauty queens and elected officials will wave merrily from their convertibles, and youngsters will squeal in delight as they clamor for the free candy.

All around, happiness is contagious…and in Burien, community pride will shine.

Many members of our community (as well as visitors) return year after year to the Burien Independence Day Parade, and for good reason.

Now in its 90th year, the Burien Independence Day Parade has gained a reputation as one of the most enjoyable and spirited community parades in the region. It starts at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, July 4th, and run for approximately two hours, putting it at a convenient time before all the barbecuing and fireworks begin.

To download a Map to plan your view, click here for a PDF file, or scroll down for a graphic.

To whet your parade appetite, here are a few things this year’s spectators have to look forward to:

• Grand Marshal Georgette Valle!
• Burien City Councilmembers!
• Belly Dancers!
• Antique Autos!
• Robots! (and their keepers)
• Ronald McDonald on a Segway!
• The Keystone Kops!
• The HOGS!
• BMX Bikes!
• Santa!
• Clowns!
• A Chinese dragon!
• Drill teams, marching bands, floats, elected officials, community groups and more!
• More special entries will be announced by the Chamber, and of course, there may be some surprises on the actual day!

Burien City Councilmember Rose Clark notes:

“Since my childhood I have loved Fourth of July parades. Flags waving, bands playing and people just having fun together. It doesn’t get better than that. We’ve been doing that in Burien for over 90 years. It is fun to work on, fun to oversee and fun to present right here in Burien. I hope to see people standing shoulder to shoulder just enjoying the day.”

Downtown Burien boasts an eclectic and charming mix of business, retail and restaurants, as well as a strong sense of community pride. The relatively new Burien Town Square and City Hall form an impressive backdrop for the downtown “skyline.” People have FUN in B-Town! Everyone is invited to come and be a part of this longstanding Burien tradition. Make it your own tradition in 2011!

The parade begins at 3:00 pm on Monday, July 4, 2011, at Ambaum Blvd. SW and SW 149th St. The route will head south on Ambaum, east on SW 153rd, north on 4th Ave. SW, then west on SW 152nd. The Burien Independence Day Parade is sponsored by:

• The Boeing Company
• Burien Toyota
• Car Pros Burien Nissan
• Fred Meyer
• Highline Medical Center
• Puget Sound Energy
• Seahurst Dental Design/Jim Coleman, DDS

Partners for this event are:

• City of Burien
• Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce
• Burien/White Center Rotary Club

Media partners are The B-Town Blog and Highline Times.

For questions about the parade, contact the Chamber at (206) 575-1633 or email staff@swkcc.org.

And here’s the map (click here to download your own PDF version):

Click image to see larger version.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• SLIDESHOW: Sights And Sounds From Burien’s Independence Day Parade
• Our First-Hand Account Of Being In The 4th Of July Parade
• PHOTOS: Scenes From Burien’s 4th Of July Parade

The City of Burien and the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce will be presenting the 90th annual Burien Independence Day Parade (we’re Sponsors) on Monday, July 4th, with some legendary area residents serving as Grand Marshals.

Our friends at the Chamber want our Readers to know also that there’s still room for community groups, marching bands, drill teams, public officials, cars, special entries, etc. to join the parade – all are welcome to participate.

And get this…it’s FREE!

• For an application, click here (PDF file)
• Click here (PDF file) for a “Hold Harmless Agreement” release that must also be completed

The Burien Independence Day Parade has gained a reputation as one of the most enjoyable and spirited community parades in the region. Community pride will shine with marching bands, energetic dance teams, elaborate floats and vintage autos! Downtown Burien boasts a charming mix of business, retail and restaurants, coupled with the impressive new Town Square and City Hall. Everyone is invited to come and be a part of this longstanding Burien tradition.

This year, the Grand Marshal of the Burien Independence Day Parade will be Georgette Valle, former Washington State Representative and Burien City Councilmember. Georgette became a State Representative in 1964 and served until 1966. State issues she championed include, among others, the clean air act, no smoking in public places, equal rights education bill and recycle bins. Returning from service to the State she became a Burien City Council member in 1998.??Georgette and her Norwegian husband, Dr. Odd Valle, made their first stateside home in Burien in an apartment named Burien Gardens, now known as The Heights. With Odd as a dentist and Georgette as the office manager they became the third dental practice in the Highline area.

The Valles began to contribute locally at once. They are widely recognized as the founders of the Burien/SeaTac Lions Club and are faithful members to this day.

Now in retirement, Georgette and Odd divide their time between Burien and a home in Arizona. Wherever she goes, Georgette gets involved locally and really makes a difference.

The parade begins at 3 pm on Monday, July 4, 2011, at Ambaum Blvd. SW and SW 149th St. The route will head south on Ambaum, east on SW 153rd, north on 4th Ave. SW, then west on SW 152nd. The Burien Independence Day Parade is sponsored by:

• Boeing Company
• Burien Toyota
• Burien/White Center Rotary Club
• Car Pros Burien Nissan
• Seahurst Dental Design/Jim Coleman, DDS

Partners for this event are the City of Burien and the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce.

Media Partner is, of course…The B-Town Blog.

For questions about the parade, contact the Chamber at (206) 575-1633 or email staff@swkcc.org.

Thousands of MLK Day celebrants strolled through Seattle’s streets Monday afternoon. Following a route from Garfield High School down to the Federal Building at 2nd Avenue and Madison Street, marchers carried signs and chanted for equality and justice.

Prior to the march, a rally was held in Garfield’s gymnasium. The rally featured performances by the Leschi Elementary Choir, El Centro Children’s Choir and the PNW Drum line. Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Robert Jeffrey Sr. delivered a powerful speech, bringing the audience to their feet and motivating them for the long march.

Below are scenes from both the rally and march, accompanied by an audio compilation from the day. Enjoy, and be sure to turn up your speakers.

Click to Play the Slideshow

Photographer Michael Brunk braved the weather to assemble this slideshow. (You can download and print photos from this event here.)

Click to Play the Slideshow

Highline High School’s annual Homecoming Pep Rally will take place Friday, Oct. 29th from 3pm – 5pm at Burien Town Square, with lots of exuberant young fans, marching band and more.

After the Pep Rally, participants will then march on over to Highline Stadium for the big game.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline High School Homecoming Pep Rally.

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 29th from 3pm – 6pm.

WHERE: Burien Town Square (map).

INFO: For more info on Highline High School, check out their website here.

The B-Town Blog’s own Michael Brunk and Scott Schaefer were on hand as well, taking pics and having fun – first, here’s a time lapse video of the intersection of Maplewild Ave SW and SW 172nd, as shot from the roof of a beachfront cabana beginning Sat. July 3rd (can you see yourself Waldo? look closely!):

Click here to view the embedded video.

And here’s a slideshow of pics Scott took:

Click to Play Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

And Scott’s iPhone 4 HD video of the fireworks finale (who’s the stooge chanting “USA! USA!” anyways?); note the US flag in the right foreground:

Click here to view the embedded video.

And finally, Michael Brunk’s Sound Slideshow of the fireworks show – be sure to turn your speakers on to hear the audio!:

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Sound Slideshow