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Corrales shows off its eccentric spirIt at annual 4th of July parade
A colorful mix of horses, wagons and costumed riders, antique vehicles of all kinds and plenty of Corrales eccentricity were on full display Thursday at the village’s Fourth of July parade.
And of course, politicians and various political causes were on display for the hundred of spectators that lined Corrales Road for the annual Independence Day parade.
As always, the parade featured many horses, from tiny Shetlands to a mighty Clydesdale, followed by a man with a shovel to clean up.
Per rules set down by the village, the water balloons and super soakers came out only after the horses had passed. Then a firetruck blasted many in the crowd with a hose. Kids snatched up candy and gum tossed from floats.
“This is one of the most classic hometown parades in the state,” said Bob Belinoff, who has attended nearly every parade in the 35 years he has lived in Corrales.
Belinoff highlighted a new float in the parade this year sponsored by “Keep Corrales Local” — a group committed to keeping the funky small-town vibe that attracted him here from New York City.
“Every year it gets a little less local,” he said of the event.
After days of rain, the weather cooperated on Thursday with cloudless skies and temperatures in the 80 during the parade, which wrapped up by about noon.
The parade has some perennial favorites, such as a community band that avoids marching the mile-long parade route by riding a trailer called “the Band Wagon.”
The Corrales Tractor Club also made its annual showing of vintage farm implements, together with the Model A Ford Club and Tin Lizzies of Albuquerque, a Model T club.
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“They call us every year, and they want us to be here,” said Billie Pyzel, who with her husband, Dan Pyzel, enjoy showing off their restored 1931 Model A Ford.
On at least one occasion, one of the vintage vehicles broke down, bringing the parade to a brief halt.
Some of the spectators are Corrales natives like Andrea Romero, who looks forward to the event to catch up with people she knew as a kid.
“I grew up going to the parade,” said Romero, who attended with her parents, her husband and their 4-year-old daughter. “We live close by so we have easy parking.”
The pet mayor of Corrales — a goat named Wendell, who was elected to a one-year term in October — mingled with spectators.
“He’s not a career politician so he’s not going to run again,” said Leslie Kranz, one of Wendell’s handlers.
