Last week’s poll asked if you enjoyed thunderstorms. While I figured a good number of people did, I was surprised to see that 90% of you did. Wow! No chickens here! I guess loud and booming sounds alongside light shows don’t bother you guys.
Speaking of loud booming sounds alongside light shows (I’m so corny, I know), yesterday Josh and I headed to Delano for their annual Fourth of July Celebration. Billed as the oldest and largest in Minnesota, they had one particular event which greatly interested both of us–a bean bag tournament.
Their first annual event, they were looking for 64 teams and payouts went to the top 5. Aside from some convoluted rules to keep play moving so the tourney wouldn’t go all day (it almost did anyway) they followed American Cornhole Association rules. Josh and I don’t follow those but are familiar with the boards themselves and did fairly well placing 5th overall and winning our $20 entry fee back. We had an absolute blast playing and look forward to next year’s tournament already.
On our way into Delano on the morning of the third we noticed people already outside getting ready for the parade on the 4th. What were they doing? Saving their seats for the next day. Delano residents apparently take this parade quite seriously as the bean bag tournament guys (the Jaycees) said they would do this on the 3rd every year something to which I replied I’d be there as long as it wasn’t a weekday but maybe they should consider the 4th instead. This they immediately mentioned wouldn’t work–mainly due to the parade going on that day.
Well anyway, the people are saving their spots on the sidelines of the parade days in advance with chairs, roped off areas, and large tarps. Basically anything they could find to note that this was their spot and no one else was to take it. This is something I have noticed a lot in Minnesota. While I am not a parade person myself–never was–I have never seen this particular phenomenon anywhere else I have lived or been.
So my question for you this week is do you save seats for parades? If so why? Do you think it’s the right thing to do or should it be first come, first serve on the day of? Have you noticed this happen elsewhere in the country or is this really just limited to Minnesota (or maybe the Upper Midwest)? Whatever you think about saving seats in advance for parades go ahead and vote on the sidebar and then comment on. After you do that feel free to check out our expired polls in the archive or read through the previous posts about polls here.
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July 4th, 2010 at 7:52 am
Yes! We marked our spot yesterday at 1pm, a full 24 hours before the apple valley parade. You have to in order to get a good spot! I think its pretty funny. But, I love parades so I am happy to do it. Apple valley let’s you do this up to 24hours in advance, any earlier and they remove your stuff! Hope it doesn’t rain!!
July 4th, 2010 at 8:45 am
we haven’t been to one for years. too hot and too crowded. except for today, too rainy:)
bb
July 4th, 2010 at 9:36 am
I’m a big parade watcher and I find it a little pretentious and annoying when people rope off areas before parades. When I was a kid, we used to rid our bikes down mains street (Idaho Street in Elko, NV) and throw everyone’s stuff around. It’s one thing for one person to go try and save spots for friends, it’s quite another to just set out a blanket and not bother to leave anyone around to watch the stuff (sm I’m looking at you…)
Ha! It’s actually not something I care too much about. I quietly dismiss people who save spots from my list of “reasonable people” and move on with my life.
When I was younger it used to embarrass me, but my mom has no problems picking up somebody’s stuff and shoving it to the side. If the people call her on it, she just stays planted in her seat and gives them the look of death until they go away. It’s very impressive.
July 4th, 2010 at 11:32 am
So, what stops someone from removing the tarps, chairs, what-have-you, if it is on their property? If I owned the house/business that someone claimed I’d move it that night and make it mine.
I only go to two parades each year, the May Day and the Gay Pride parades. This year someone saved my spot at the May Day parade. Of course, that means they got there about 1.5 hours before it started and brought an extra chair. I think that is totally appropriate because they were there the whole time and it was for less than 4-5 people. I think over 4-5 people, or trying to save a spot but not physically remain as the spot, is crazy and wrong.
July 4th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I used to love parades when I was a kid. But like everything else, people aren’t happy unless they take things to an extreme and ruin it. Saving seats is a perfect example… “This is MY spot – you can’t stand there!” (another example that probably doesn’t affect everybody, but when did marching bands start including rolling amps for guitar, bass and vocals?)
I’ll be in the back yard with a boom box, a bean bag and a beer.
July 4th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I’ve never been a big parade fan; generally I haven’t gone to them unless I’m in them or know someone who is. So no saving spots for me.
July 5th, 2010 at 12:10 am
Ugh…the only way to watch a parade is to walk backwards along the parade route so as to fast forward it.
I worked on a political campaign one summer and had to do multiple parades every weekend. As if parades were bad enough, I had to shell out stickers to little kids for a candidate who sucked. I’m not sure if I’ve been to a parade since.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:40 am
I’ve been to one Apple Valley 4th Parade and frankly would rather have anesthetic free oral surgery that watch something like that again. It sucked on so many levels, one of which the hordes of l mullet wearing Wal-Mart shoppers out there on “their” little spots. The others BTW; politicians, dance teams, little cars and not one float worth seeing.
As far as putting out your stuff 24 hours in advance, if I owned property along that route I’d be pulling stuff off the street, that’s BS. If you MUST attend, I’m sorry you gotta be out there in person saving your spot. This “reserve” thing is bullshit. Then again if you’ve got nothing better to do than attend one of these self serving “civic pride” events you probably don’t know what that means.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:04 am
I do not recall significant seat saving going on in the early 80′s for the Apple Valley parade. Of course I don’t recall parents sitting out all night in line waiting for some toy for their kids back then either. Well, at least not as often as now. So maybe the seat saving is a result of parents tired of waiting up until all hours for other things? I’m a little surprised that scuffles haven’t broken out about it, or thefts haven’t occurred. I.e. people putting stuff out the day before only to find it all gone the next morning. Heck, some of those neighborhoods if you left a bike out along the street, it wouldn’t last a few hours if unattended.
If I had little kids that benefit from a front row seat, perhaps I’d save a seat. But to be honest, that’s what my shoulders are for. Parades tend to be a little more fun if you walk around a bit anyway.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
I walked to the parade from my house and arrived just as it was starting. I found a prime spot without having to “save it” or invade a family’s reserved spot. There was enough room for 2 people and 3 dogs. I think it is silly to save spots.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
I drove through downtown Lakeville a few years ago and noticed that the same thing was happening 24 hours before the big Pan O Prog cruising night. I had my spot staked out this year in Apple Valley and I think that people should be rewarded for planning ahead and showing inititive. I did have chairs stolen a few years ago but still think it’s worth the effort (although I use an old blanket now.) My son likes to collect the polititian’s stickers and I love when everyone stands up when the colors go past. Just goes to show that there is quite a lot of goodwill and sense of fun south of the river!
July 7th, 2010 at 2:09 am
Saving seats is just plain stupid. When we go to the Apple Valley Parade, we ride our bikes and have never had a bad spot riding up shortly before the parade starts. This “this is my space and I should be rewarded for putting stuff here mentality is part of why we stopped going frequently – not to mention how boring the parade has become in recent years…
July 7th, 2010 at 7:31 am
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