Large crowd celebrates Victoria Day at 123rd Thrifty Foods parade

Sidney town crier Kenny ­Podmore led the 123rd Thrifty Foods ­Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)Sidney town crier Kenny ­Podmore led the 123rd Thrifty Foods ­Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Members of the Esquimalt Buccaneer Days executive participated in the 123rd Thrifty Foods ­Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)Members of the Esquimalt Buccaneer Days executive participated in the 123rd Thrifty Foods ­Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Lekwungen Traditional Dancers participated in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)Lekwungen Traditional Dancers participated in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May walks in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)Green Party Leader Elizabeth May walks in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Ukrainian newcomers march in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)Ukrainian newcomers march in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Youth wave from a Saanich Fire Department truck during the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)Youth wave from a Saanich Fire Department truck during the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
The Spectrum Community School marching band participated in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)The Spectrum Community School marching band participated in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Ukrainian newcomers and people hosting them participated in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)Ukrainian newcomers and people hosting them participated in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
A large crowd gathered for the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)A large crowd gathered for the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
The crowd at the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade got to see a B.C. Transit demonstration electric bus. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)The crowd at the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade got to see a B.C. Transit demonstration electric bus. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Victoria Police Chief Del Manak marches at the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)Victoria Police Chief Del Manak marches at the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
A large crowd gathered for the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)A large crowd gathered for the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
The Victoria Fire Department participated in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)The Victoria Fire Department participated in the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
A large crowd gathered for the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)A large crowd gathered for the 123rd Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Mother Nature may have rained on our parade, but a large crowd still enjoyed the 123rd Thrifty Foods ­Victoria Day event in B.C.’s capital city.

Monday’s parade featured 85 entries, up from 65 last year.

“We are absolutely over the moon that this is a full parade,” said Kelly Kurta, executive director of the Greater Victoria Festival Society. “The parade was the foundation for the development of tourism in this city and it almost feels like it’s going to be again. It’s starting the whole tradition of welcoming people back to our city and telling people to come back.”

The Victoria Day parade kicked off at Mayfair Shopping Centre and continued down Douglas Street to Courtney Street.

“I love seeing the audience,” Kurta said. “It’s exciting. I love seeing everybody’s faces and seeing our community coming together.”

The event had a ’70s theme and included seven Canadian bands and seven American bands.

“The bands have a bunch of ’70s music,” Kurta said. “We are so excited to have the American bands here. The bands complete the Victoria Day weekend and complete the parade. We also encouraged the community to dress up in their best ’70s outfits and have some fun.”

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brendan.mayer@blackpress.ca

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