Photo by Angela Gonzalez A man drives a tractor with flags attached to the back for Balaton’s Fun Fest parade last Saturday afternoon.

BALATON — The community of Balaton and others from other towns, came together last Saturday afternoon to enjoy a fun-filled parade.

The sun was beating down on the backs of friends and family sitting in lawn chairs and grass, as they waited on the sidewalks of Lake Avenue South street for Balaton’s Fun Fest parade to begin.

Adults talked while children gripped plastic grocery bags and kept their eyes on the horizon for any sign of movement.

It wasn’t long until kids began shouting as they saw the glimmer of police cars. The sight of American flags pulled by the American Legion, made people sit up from their chairs and take off their hats in respect.

Soon came Balaton’s fire department, filling the air with loud wailing from the sirens. Kids waved frantically to the bright highlighter green trucks, in hopes of being thrown a plastic cup the same color as the trucks.

The line of fire trucks seemed endless. Fire departments from Ruthton, Tyler and Lynd, had come for the celebration. They joined in the siren chorus and had plenty of sweets to throw.

Once the firetrucks were gone, two musicans drove past in a golf cart, all while playing bagpipes. An old rusty brown truck came driving by, its hood was gone, kids pointed as they saw the engine move whenever the truck sped up. There was more pointing when a young boy came riding by on a unicycle.

After, there was a silence, no cars or floats seemed to be coming. Children looked far down, seeing nothing coming.

“Is it done?” said kids to their parents. “Do we have to leave now?”

Even the adults were confused, until kids began shouting.

“Look! Drums!”

In came marching Groove Inc. banging on drums. Kids danced and stomped to the beat of the music. Behind the drumline was a goalpost being pushed on wheels. Kids took turns running up to kick a ball into it.

The parade was far from over. For the next hour, nearby businesses such as Northwest Lighting Systems and Minnwest Bank came with floats and candy. Decked out golf carts in red, white and blue came zooming by. Different-sized tractors were seen. Clowns on motorbikes came driving by, giving out fist bumps that squeaked. Even bright orange porta potties came riding past.

There was more drumming by the bright green Su Fu Du drumline that came all the way from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Maura Freeburg had a great time seeing everything in the parade.

“My favorite part was the candy,” Freeburg said while showing all the goodies she got.

She even had time to enjoy the other activities in Fun Fest.

“I’ve seen the horses at the petting zoo.” Freeburg said, “They’re also my favorite.”