Cavalcade

The day after bagpipes and the castle was the parade we intended to attend that opening weekend of Festival, the Cavalcade. This parade has most of the bands involved in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and floats from many of the shows in town for the festival. Due to construction of a totally unnecessary tram in Edinburgh, the Cavalcade was in Holyrood Park last year and again this year.

We went early thinking this was wise to get good vantage point. Turns out, this wasn’t so necessary. We arrived ninety minutes early to a completely empty parade route excluding roughly nine other people. Still I laid down a blanket and spread out on it for a nap while Amy and the kids went to the entertainment area (carnival?). I sort of assumed that Amy knew how far a way it was.

They made it all the way to the entrance, but not one step further. Blocking there steady advance was a few chaps on stilts dressed as though they were riding an ostrich. I’m not sure if you have met our second daughter, BC, but if so, you already know that this spelled doom for her; she simply turned around and left. No fits, minor tears, but a full force “about face” and “forward march” back to Dad and the absence of ostrich-stilt people. So, Amy and the crew had to follow due to legal obligations.

This was an all out parade, not just bagpipes. In fact, our children cheered and yelled out, “Yeah, a REAL marching band!” when a bagpipe free crew passed by. The parade started with 150 motorcycles and some sports cars. Many kids would think this was cool, but ours just covered their ears and waited for the exhaust and noise to clear. They were happiest with the bands. The very first float was the Lady Boys of Bangkok, which Mary caught on to right away. She, however, thought they were just being silly.

All was fun and games until the Chinese dragons came down the path. This put BC into full out tears and a face-down-in-the-picnic-blanket hiding spot. But, she kept coming back for more. Dancers, fine; show songs, fine; anything in a (non fairy) costume, horror!

At the end of the parade we were told by two children, “That was awesome.”