JULY 4TH PARADE 2011

            A small but enthusiastic bunch of Giggles & Grins joeys turned out for the alley's signature parade, the Fairborn 4th of July Parade, held (no surprise here) on Monday, July 4th.  The weather was parade perfect with a few sprinkles of rain just before the parade stepped off.  The crowd of spectators seemed larger than in recent years and they were very appreciative of the G&G band of merry-makers.

            A swell time was had by all!

(Above) GOOD GRIEF and CLARE are prepared for any weather emergency before the start of the annual Fairborn 4th of July parade.

(Below) ALTO, CAREFUL, MICKEY, and BOOF brace themselves for the parade and the possibility that grandchildren BELLA (Mickey's) and DILLON (Boof's) will be more than loony clowns can possibly handle.

(Above) ALTO, CAREFUL, and MICKEY strike a confident pose before tackling the looooooong Fairborn parade route.  There was a tad less joyful exuberance at the end of the parade.

(Below) BOOF poses with daughter MISSY and boyfriend BRIAN and grandsons DILLON (left) and BRANDON (right).

(Above) SCOOTER the Clown (left) made an appearance this year as an undercover clown with only a red dot on her nose to indicate her secret status.  Mickey's granddaughter BELLA enjoyed her second parade in her clown career while Mickey wonders whether he will be able to rise out of the crouch after the photo is taken.

(Below) BOOF and SCOOTER pose for a photo 23 years after their first appearance in the Fairborn parade.

(Below) Mickey's Herkemer Battle Jitney disguised as the Giggles & Grins float was decked out in patriotic red, white, and blue for the big Fairborn parade.