The parade and the fireworks were preambled by brief but hard downpours that were sorely needed in our area. Participants and watchers scrambled for cover from the rain but both events were held yesterday.

The rain fell on the parade about ten minutes before we were supposed to move toward downtown. Participants ran to shelter under the stairs leading up to the primary school and inside of vehicles. Those who were lucky did not get drenched because they were out taking pictures like me. Unless they were on motorcyles like the group riding for Bad Boys House of Cycles. They were just out of luck for shelter from the rain too.

I did not get a chance to make it all of the way around the parade so if you have a picture that you would like to submit, please use the link above and make it as small as possible since I am working from dial-up and it takes forever to download pictures. Most email programs will ask if you would like to downsize the picture.

The crowd gathered along the road from Ruth's Restaurant all of the way to the Recreation Fields. Most were gathered around the square and few were along the final stretch of the route where participants amused themselves with chatter and laughter. Bubbles and a loudspeaker were other forms of entertainment as participants wound their way to the Recreation Complex.

From there, the fireman's muster took place as well as other forms of entertainment for children and adults alike. Food, music, and trams for transportation back and forth from different areas of the complex were waiting to be enjoyed.

Another downpour with dangerous lightning took place before the fireworks display began. Many got drenched and some chose to go home. The lightning stayed close and the storm hovered around the complex for close to an hour. Many chose to wait for the fireworks though and fun began shortly before 10 p.m.

Children drew pictures in the dirt parking lots while parents brought chairs out of their vehicles. The Zebulon Fire Department passed out a limited amount of 3-D glasses to view the fireworks in a whole new way. Flashes of red, white, and blue with green and brilliant bangs and flashes of light were their reward. Cheers erupted from the crowd at the beginning and end of the show.