Sunday, April 08, 2007

Monument Ave. Easter Parade

The annual Easter Parade took place on Monument Avenue this afternoon. It was a bright, crisp day in the Fan District, and as is the custom that had thousands of people milling around on a quarter-mile, closed-to-motor-traffic stretch of Richmond’s most famous street to take in the sights. But this parade is a participatory event. So, the lookers were also the lookees. Funny hats, fancy outfits and costumes and were plentiful, which made this ritual -- as always -- a paradise for people-watchers:
There was dancing in the street.

The Taters were harmonizing.

The accompanist appeared on the balcony.

Sami and Kevin made the best of the day.

Big Daddy was on the job.

Hats were judged on a platform in front of the Lee Monument.

Amplified gospel music filled the spring air in the Fan District.

Since there were almost as many dogs on hand as people, dogs in costumes were judged, too.

For lots of old friends who ran into one another on Monument Avenue the citizens parade became a reunion.

Photos by SLANT. Click on any picture to enlarge it.

5 comments:

Clay Blancett said...

My kid and me just watched three pre-teens wrap up they're singing set with a rouseing "Proud to be an American" on the steps of the Jefferson Davis Monument. Yeesh.

F.T. Rea said...

claybee,

Yeah, I caught a few minutes of that act, too. Their style reminded me of an old Lawrence Welk TV show. Didn't stick around for the finish.

Something for everybody?

Anonymous said...

What you guys aren't proud to be Americans? ;-)

Thanks for the pics F.T. One of these days I'm going to make it down there.

Anonymous said...

Terry, your photos are uniformly excellent. That doggoned old camera of yours is something else. I'm trying to remember, did I see a strip of duct tape on it? Like it's a piece of band equipment....

Thanks for including a Taters shot in the mix - we had a large time. Didn't do any Lawrence Welk stuff, but I did notice some bubbles floating around during our set. I believe they came from yon balcony......

F.T. Rea said...

ward smythe,

Thanks.

Brad,

Thanks. When I do such slideshows, I think of them as little freeze-dried movies.

And, feel free to use that shot of the Taters.