Parade highlights a day of celebration between family, friends, neighbours and visitors
Fifties-style fashion and music took centre stage Saturday, Aug. 12, as North Lake Homecoming Day celebrated past and present, highlighted by a noon-hour parade.
Early rock ‘n’ roll and children’s laughter rang through the traditional parade setup area at Lois Gould’s property overlooking Second Eel Lake and along Route 122 in Fosterville as the small but creative parade rolled through the rural hamlet.
Gould not only provided the space to set up parade entries, which she has done for years, but she also took the matriarchal seat on the family’s “50s Family” float prepared in Charles Gould’s large shop.
Several generations of Gould’s extended family rode and walked the parade route.
Gould’s neighbours, Mike and Judy Saunders travelled from their nearby lakeside home to serve as the 2023 North Lake Homecoming Day parade marshals.
Judy, a renowned painter, and Mike, a long-time professional photographer, called it a special honour.
Judy said they were unsure why they were chosen, but when asked, they happily accepted.
Mike said they attend the parade and festival events most years.
Family was at the forefront of most parade entries. The Higgs family’s entry offered a Grease theme with mother Lyanne Higgs and Shen Higgs, Suzanne Higgs and France Lapage rocking Pink Lady outfits, while the grandchildren Jayce Lapage-Higgs, Darian Fraites and Maxton Fraites were the little T-Birds.
Gillian Budrow, wearing a genuine 50s-era dress, walked the parade route while her sons, seven-year-old Maddex and two-year-old Malcolm, drove Maddex’s electric-powered children’s side-by-side. The entry made a family point for any era, as the boys’ little vehicle displayed a sign recognized by any mother. “We’re too busy driving Mama crazy,” it stated.
Travelling through Fosterville, the parade, featuring about a dozen colourful entries and fire vehicles from across Lakeland Ridges, entertained local and visiting families along the roadside.
The children enjoyed the sights, sounds, and especially the treats passed out along the way, including full-sized bags of chips by the crew from Covered Bridge Potato Chips.
Before and after the noon-hour parade, the North Lake Community Centre became the action centre with family activities, a vendors market, music and community supper.
