STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Charlotta Harris says her native homeland of Sweden doesn’t boast many parades, although it’s trying to make the National Day of Sweden bigger.

That’s why she turns out for Wagon Days each year.

“It’s corny but fun,” she said.

Harris took her place among thousands of people lining the parade route on a bluebird day with temperatures in the 70s as antique oil wagons, buggies and the namesake Big Hitch ore wagons rolled along Sun Valley Road and Ketchum’s Main Street.

Joining the parade for the first time in 61 years were members of the Shoshone-Bannock tribe near Fort Hall.

“I love the spirit of the event,” said Hailey resident Judy Foster. “I went to the Indian celebration before the parade and everyone was so excited. They formed a circle of friendship, and it was a real feeling of community.”

Among those in the parade was the Ketchum-Warm Springs Riding Club, formed in the 1950s to keep horses in shape for hunting. It’s one of the oldest riding groups in Idaho.

Also: Buffy the White Buffalo and Ralphie the Camel, which have become crowd favorites, along with the ore wagons.

“I remember being bored with parades in North Dakota where I used to live,” Foster added. “Then I took my first child Chad to the parade and watched as his eyes got big. He was oohing and awing, and you  see that same expression on a lot of the kids here today. They don’t always get to see horses and some of the other things you see in a parade. Here we have a cross section of people from grandfathers to the little kids just having a wonderful time.”

Alexandra Phipps of Boise concurred:

“This is my favorite weekend of the year. I’ve come to this parade since I was little—I’m 32 now so maybe 30 years. And now I’m bringing my 5-year-old daughter and 7-year old nephew Jaxson. I think it’s even more special now because it’s a chance to get away from the city and see the white buffalo and camels and ore wagons.”

Sun Valley Suns’ Ryan Enrico was among a cadre of hockey players twirling around on inline skates as they scooped road apples deposited by the parade’s many horses on the city streets.

It’s hardly a way for getting in shape for the Sun’s opening hockey game, which will take place in early December, said Enrico. After all, get a little manure in your skates and –plop!

”But it’s fun and we love giving back. We love doing this and handing out refreshments at the Boulder Mountain Tour, which is fun because we get to watch elite skiers and look at beautiful mountains.”

An hour and 15 minutes after the parade started, the ore wagons turned the corner from Sun Valley Road onto Main street, the 20-mule team carefully stepping over chain as they made the turn.

Men raised their Bloody Marys in toast, and children cheered.

“I recently moved here from Anchorage so someone told me you’ve gotta get in to town to see this,” said Art Lallis. “The ore wagons were really cool.”