By Clara Glendale | Beacon downsizing survivor

Bass Lake Fest-of-Summerfest Festival opens this week.

A parade is the main attraction on day 1 at the mostly-annual event, formerly known as Pre-Mid-Summer Festival Week Days. It commences at one end of Main Street Avenue and continues to the other end.

Tentative, partial parade lineup: 

• Ear-piercing siren noise (emitted from fire truck)
• Loud siren last (miscellaneous)
• People on horseback, holding various flags
• Helpers with shovels
• People wielding flags, but on-foot
• Classic convertible, transporting Mayor Forrest Bunkard
• Other local dignitaries, in slightly less-impressive vehicles
• Insane Stilt Posse
• Clem Brickston tribute float
• Bass Lake High School marching band, decked-out in Hawai’ian shirts/leis, not official uniforms, because those things get super-hot in August
• Candy-Tossers Anonymous
• Guy driving vintage tractor
• Another guy driving vintage tractor, with child riding upon lap
• Yet another person driving tractor, but it’s a recent model, so nobody cares
• Float: Bass Lake Sidewalk Merchants
• Baby-Stroller Patrol
• Float (using pickup truck) St. Methodist Catholic Church
• Some large gadget
• Men wearing tassel-hats, driving tiny cars in tight circles
• Float: Queen of Bass Lake, along with selected runners-up
• Monster truck!
• Float: Cottage Cheese Emporium
• Nearbytown High School varsity summertime marching band

For a complete parade lineup, see if it’s available at the festival’s Facebook page, if it exists.

This year’s festival is partially underwritten by Beijing Bait & Tackle and Trout Lane Merchants.

Nobody else contributed to this report.