Hundreds of Moorheaders stepped out proudly on Friday evening in the annual Greater Moorhead Days Parade.

The parade – a traditional highlight of the venerable community celebration dating back to 1951 – made its way up 20th Street South from M State to 14th Avenue. From the Moorhead High Band and its flag bearers to a veterans honor guard, marching pooches of 4 Luv of Dog, and the Probstfield Historic Farm’s antique tractor and hay wagon, the procession offered a real-time sampler of what’s important and fun in the city.

Spectators of all ages lined the route: Senior citizens in lawn chairs, extended families seeking shady spots, and excited youngsters scrambling along the curbs to scavenge penny candy. Copious amounts of penny candy were tossed by marchers and from floats. American Crystal was the sweetest of all, distributing whole bags of powdered and brown sugar.

Three floats were named winners in the annual contest to depict the parade’s theme – this year, “Out of This World.” The balloon-decked entry by River Pointe took first place, while Eventide Senior Living’s float, bedecked with an oversized alien, ranked second. Moorhead Youth Hockey’s Bantams, with costumed Star Trek characters and rollerblading outriders, earned third place.

(Photos/Nancy Hanson)