Kaysville parade-goers celebrate 'home-town' holiday


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KAYSVILLE — Blankets, chairs, tents and canopies lined the streets long before the parade began and families of children pulled wagons and coolers through the crowds of people, offering "ice cold" drinks and snacks.

It is clear the Kaysville water parade, held every year on the Fourth of July, is a much-loved tradition.

"Kaysville has a home-town feel and we love it," said Karen McKinney. "We wouldn't miss it."

She said the entire family camps at nearby Cherry Hill, comes to the parade in the morning and witnesses the fireworks show at Davis High School at night every year. They're a military heritage family and feel that Kaysville "gives the military the respect they deserve," McKinney, of Sunset, said.

"It's good to remember those who went before and are serving now to give us our freedom," she said. "It's not just about hamburgers and hot dogs and fireworks and barbecues."

One of her favorite parts is seeing all the parade-goers stand and salute as the flag goes by as the first entry in the parade.

"I love to see all the red, white and blue," McKinney said. "You look around and say, 'America! Yay!"

The nearly two-hour-long parade covered seven city blocks and included antique cars, school bands, dancing groups and businesses, and more. Thousands of people turned out to see it. The high temperatures and blazing sun weren't enough to sway many, who did their best to stay under colorful umbrellas and canopies until massive tanker trucks and dump trucks filled with water finished off the parade with a giant water fight.

"It's part of the fun of being here," said Amanda Phillips. Her kids were dressed in bathing suits and ready to get soaked.

Kristin Murphy/Deseret News

Many came prepared to fire back at the parade, with squirt guns, buckets and water balloons.

Organizers of the decades-old tradition faced some scrutiny about the water fight portion of the parade this year, as much of the state and country is experiencing a drought. But, along with the fun, organizers planned to send a message of conservation, adding that fire hydrants and pipes need to be flushed every year anyway.

Drenched parade-goers left all smiles, though, and kids, also wet, clenching small collections of candy picked up off the hot pavement.

"So often, as politicians, we are tasked with thinking about what is wrong with our cities. It's great to have a chance to think about what is right," Kaysville City Council candidate Katie Witt said. She canvassed the waiting parade crowd with small packages of crayons and a coloring contest/advertisement. She said she hopes more kids take an interest and get involved in their cities.

"There's not many towns left where you get that hometown feel," McKinney said. "We loved it when we lived here and we're hopefully coming back.

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