Sprinkles hold off from dampening Fathoms Parade

Nearly 100 units took part in Port Orchard’s Fathoms O’ Fun Festival Grand Parade

PORT ORCHARD — A cool, cloudy evening — something of a standard for summer in late June — didn’t discourage thousands of parade-watchers from showing up and lining on Bay Street for the 51st annual Fathoms O’ Fun Grand Parade on Saturday, June 30.

Just under 100 parade units lined up for the march through Port Orchard’s downtown area.

The Fathoms Royalty Court helmed the Fathoms’ “Experience the Magic” float and hosted eight out-of-town community floats, including those from Sequim, Tacoma, Jefferson County and Forks.

In addition to hundreds of participants in the parade — including a collection of sheet-metal furnace men from Air Masters Heating — about 1,300 Fathoms volunteers walked alongside and navigated the units along Bay Street.

The Electronettes Junior Drill Team won the parade’s Grand Sweepstakes Award. The judges this year were Barbara Dobbins of Bruce Titus Port Orchard Ford; Dave Foote, retired United Way executive director; and Suanne Martin-Smith, co-owner of Home Made Cafe.

Community Festival Float Awards went to:

Sweepstakes: Mason County Forest Festival Float

President’s: Capital Lakefair Festival Float

Mayor’s: Sequim Irrigation Festival Float

Queen’s: The Daffodil Festival Float

Governor’s: Forks Old Fashioned 4th of July Festival Float

Festival: Port Townsend’s Rhododendron Festival Float

Princess: McCleary Bear Festival

Northwest Pride: Clallam County Fair Royalty

Appreciation Awards (not judged):

Pace Car: Cayden’s Demolition Clean-Up

Leo’s Towing

Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard

Kitsap Credit Union

WAVE — Fathoms O’ Fun July 4th Fireworks Sponsor

Grand Marshal — Larry Stokes

South Kitsap High School Community Marching Band and Bus

Judged Entries:

Antique, Classic, Custom Vehicles — Individual:

Best: 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Convertable — Ken Dickinson

Second: 1955 Packard Patrician — Billy McCandless

Car Clubs:

Best: Saints Car Club

Second: Kitsap Mustang Car Club

Commercial Entries:

Best: Air Masters Heating

Second: Tulalip Resort/Casino

Dance, Gym, Drill & Drumline:

Best: Electronettes High Steppers Drill Team & Drumline

Second: Washington Diamonds Drill Team & Drumline

Equestrian:

Best: Corona’s Hay-Mexican Dancing Horses & Mariachi Band

Second: Miss Kitsap Fair & Stampede

Fraternal:

Best: Port Orchard John Paul Jones Masonic Lodge

Second: Kitsap Peninsula Shrine Club

Military and Veterans Groups:

Best: Bremerton Base Submarine Veterans Float

Novelty Groups:

Best: A Pirates Life for Us

Performing Groups:

Best: Fantasia Twirling Corps

Political:

Best: Michelle Caldier for State Representative

Poopers & Scoopers:

Best: Kitsap Saddle Club

Religious Groups:

Port Orchard United Methodist Church

Service, Nonprofits:

Best: Sidney Museum and Arts Association

Specialties:

Best: Department of Derby, Coed Junior Roller Derby

Second: Abate of Washington, Key Peninsula Chapter

Visiting Royalty (without festival floats or horses):

Best: Miss Viking Fest

Second: Queens for a Cure — Supreme Queen Emilee Kat Chao

Youth Groups:

Best: South Kitsap Pee Wees

Second: Cub Scout Pack 4526

Note: Civic & Dignitaries categories are not judged.

The Fathoms O’ Fun Festival float is graced by members of the Royalty Court: (from left) Senior Princess Maria Hoyt; Queen Tamara Medal; and Senior Princess Paige Hoffsommer. (Bob Smith | Kitsap Daily News)

The Sequim Irrigation Festival Float was the winner of the Mayor’s Community Festival Float Award. Princess Liliana Williams waves to the crowd during the Fathoms parade. (Bob Smith | Kitsap Daily News photo)

The Electronettes High Steppers Drill Team Drumline was named Best Dance, Gym, Drill Drumline unit. The Electronettes Junior Drill Team was the winner of the Grand Sweepstakes Award. (Bob Smith | Kitsap Daily News photo)