STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
The word “partisanship” could not be found in Diesel Ward’s vocabulary on Independence Day.
The Wood River High School senior, who has been honored in the past for the ways he’s addressed autism, was red, white and blue through and through as he rode his patriotic tricycle along the parade route of the Hailey Days of the Old West Fourth of July parade.
Slotted glasses that flashed red and blue completed his act.
“I’m on a bike throwing candy. Red, white and blue. Trying to get everyone in the spirit,” he said. “When I was little kid, I watched the parade. And then in 2002 I found I could be in the parade so this is big to me. Honoring all that’s great in our country. Diesel Ward—very patriotic, Just wanting to make sure everyone else is patriotic.”
The 2022 Hailey Days of the Old West Fourth of July parade was a robust one featuring nearly a hundred entries after two years of diminished parades due to the COVID pandemic.
Enjoying pleasant temperatures in the 70s, it ranged from a blow-up dinosaur on skateboard paraded out there by the Sun Valley Toy Store to a group of more than 50 people marching for reproductive rights.
“It’s actually quite peaceful when you’re in the parade itself because the sidewalks are where the crowd is, said Michelle Schwartz, who was part of Idaho Base Camp contingent.
Mountain Humane tugged at the heart strings with a parade of pups up for adoption, including seven new Labrador retriever puppies rescued from a home in Jerome.
“They’ll be ready on Wednesday—we’ll have 21 puppies altogether. We have a lot of new puppies right now,” said Christina Perea.
Among the parade entries was a 1936 Whites Tour bus, a bright red convertible that used to drive tourists from Glacier National Park on the Going to the Sun Road. It’s now headquartered at the Sun Valley Auto Club.
Colla Voce sang “Dancing Queen,” while more than 50 people marched on behalf of reproductive rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
Following the parade, hundreds of people swarmed to Hop Porter Park for a Riverfest of live music and picnicking.
“Unbelievable,” said Sawtooth Brewery’s Paul Holle, surveying the scene.
Joanne Wetherell said her team at REMAX/Sun Valley had a blast putting together a float but lamented they ran out of candy by the end of the parade.
“We were giving away the pinwheels from our float to youngsters at the end,” she said.