The parade marked a return to saluting popcorn, but the Valparaiso Popcorn Fest event presented patriotic theme Saturday.
Matthew Byerly, one of several parade announcers along the route, said since the parade fell on the anniversary of 9/11 this year, and given all that has happened in the last 1 1/2 years due to the pandemic, the parade committee was hoping the parade would present a show of unity, of people coming together, as well as to honor those who have served.
“This year we recognized all front-line workers to recognize their importance during the past year,” Byerly said.
But Byerly said they also wanted to celebrate the community and the return to things being familiar.
After a one-year absence — the Popcorn Festival was canceled last year due to the pandemic — the parade, craft and food vendors, kids games, live entertainment and other events once again drew thousands of people to downtown Valparaiso for the one-day event.
Chris Stidham’s three young children took turns waving an American flag in-between scrambling for candy at Valparaiso’s 42nd Popcorn Parade on Saturday.
Held on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the parade had a patriotic flair, with a number of entrants honoring those who died as a result of the terrorist attacks.
One float bore a sign reading “We Will Never Forget,” another, “United We Stand.” One float displayed a large eagle, others featured American flags. The Valparaiso GOP float was a replica of a smoldering Twin Towers before they crashed to the ground. Smoke billowed from the towers.
“It’s important for people to remember, with it being the 20th anniversary,” said Stidham, of Portage, as daughter Adeleine, 6, and sons Sawyer, 4, and Graham, 3, gathered the flag and the candy in a blanket to wrap up and take home.
Earlier in the morning, Valparaiso Parks hosted a Popcorn Panic 5 mile and 5K walk/run and Lit’l Kernel Puff Race, and a 9/11 Remembrance was held just prior to the parade.
Back at the parade, Brad Seifert, of Washington Township said he hadn’t been to the event in years, but a friend now lives along the route giving him a great spot to view it and he came to see some kids he knows who are in a school band and were among the participants.
“It’s a good time,” he said.
Nearby, 5-year-old twins David and Jonathan Schmidt watched enthusiastically as high school bands, dancers and young martial artists performed and the floats passed by, their parents Rick and Stacey Schmidt, of Valparaiso, next to them.
But for the youngsters, the highlight was clearly clamoring for the candy being tossed out to the crowds and filling their bag.
“We come to the parade all the time They love it,” their dad, Rick Schmidt, said of the twins. “They love the parade and they love the candy.”
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
