Thousands of people enjoyed what some called Rowayton's "best ever" parade Sunday, lining the streets to watch as area children marched behind veterans, antique cars and marching bands.
It was the 41st annual parade, and one spectator thought there were more people in it than ever. Kathy Delano, who came to Rowayton in 1999, agreed. "It's the biggest I've seen," she said, adding that, "It's always charming."
"It's like they used to be years and years ago," said her friend, Joan Schmaltz, who's been watching since 1994. "Like when we were growing up, instead of all this high tech."
"We like the vintage cars," Delano said.
Mike Barbis, a 6th Taxing District commissioner, agreed there were more people out than usual, and he attributed it to the weather. "People were cooped up all winter; it was a very long painful winter," he said, adding that the ever-falling snow was followed by a wet, cold spring. "The weather has just turned and people want to be out," he said. "It's kind of a win-win for everybody."
Other events held this week in Rowayton got better-than-usual attendence, he said. Both the Martini Stand held Friday and the Carver Foundation fundraiser Wednesday had "huge turnouts."
The parade is put on by the Rowayton Civic Association.
Laurel Beaudreau was at her second parade. "It's charming and heartwarming," she said.
Homestyle touches included Raggedy Ann and Andy in the back of a Nash Rambler. Brett Meeker brought a 5-year-old neighbor to ride the parade route in a jeep with him and children in wagons adorned with patriotic decorations were both in the parade and watching it.
"It's the best little parade in Connecticut," said Kristen Schadt. Her family comes from out of town to watch the parade every year. She has seen nine Rowayton parades and this one was "fantastic."
Barbis said he has marched in the parade for years and the turnout wasn't the only thing that was unusual. "The crowd was in different places than normal," he said. Places that are usually crowded weren't and there were "tons" of people in other places that "usually don't have people waiting there."
"We got very lucky," he said. "...Everyone's ready for summer to arrive, it's now here, we're kicking it off in full strength."
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