MARYSVILLE — The Marysville Strawberry Festival Kiddies Parade drew a variety of colorfully clad youngsters to march along their route June 20, from Totem Middle School to Comeford Park, as Kiddies Parade Director Kim Mease estimated that 40 entrants registered, with each entry group including anywhere from “one to about 50” members.

Mease, who’s served as director of the Kiddies Parade for the past four years, admitted that the numbers of participants have been “kind of going down a bit” over the years, but she expressed enthusiasm for the creativity demonstrated by all the entrants in the costumes, wheels, pets, groups and floats categories.

“We’ve had a lot of ponies this year, which is unique,” Mease said. “Usually, we have dogs entered, but no ponies before. I think a lot of the fairies we’ve had this year have tried to go with the Strawberry Festival’s theme of ‘Magical Fantasy.'”

In the costume category, a young boy dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine won first place, followed by a “Bob the Builder” in second place, a wizard in third place, a “’50s Girl” in fourth place and a young boy flexing his padded arms as the Hulk in fifth place. The “Strawberry” entrant won first place in the wheels category, followed by a little girl in a “Strawberries for Sale” basket in second place, a “Luau” entry in third place and a “Mexican Ninja” entry in fourth place. A young man dressed as Zorro, riding on horseback, galloped off with first place in the pets category, while the “Dream It, Be It” entry followed at second place, and a young man and his dog wearing signs marked “Use Your Imagination” came in at third place. For the groups category, “Dancing Fire” took first place, “Fairies” followed in second place, “Multiples” came in at third place, MPAC was awarded fourth place and MCEP received fifth place. The first-place float carried “Princesses in Training,” while the second-place entry showcased a “Rock Star Fantasy,” and the third-place entrants were “Welcome to the Dock.” A young girl dressed as a unicorn was named the grand prize winner for the Kiddies Parade.

“It’s been a wonderful day, and I’m glad of those who do participate,” Mease said. “Every year, I appreciate it.”

Click here for more photos.