Marysville bowled over

San Diego invites city float to join its parade

By Theresa Goffredo

Herald Writer

MARYSVILLE — Directors of San Diego’s nationally televised Holiday Bowl parade have for the past 10 years been trying to make their pageant one of the best, not just in the United States but worldwide.

To accomplish that, parade organizers have invited a marching band from Japan, a drill team from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and today have more large inflatable balloons — 25 — than the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York.

Holiday Bowl organizers also have been scouting out other parades across the country for unique floats.

Enter Marysville’s Strawberry Festival float, invited this year for the first time to be among the floats in the Holiday Bowl parade on Dec. 28 and one of only three Washington cities to capture the honor.

"We’re really excited to have their float down here," Holiday Bowl parade director Mark Neville said in a telephone interview. "They definitely will enhance the quality of our parade."

Marysville’s float was singled out from among 28 floats during Seattle’s Seafair parade in July — one of several parades the Strawberry Festival float participates in across the state each year.

And it may have been hard for parade organizers from sunny San Diego to resist the Marysville float. Dubbed "Strawberry Tropics," the float includes palm trees sprouting with strawberries instead of coconuts, a smoking volcano, a waterfall and pond, and lots of colorful birds and orchids.

Jodi Haitt, managing director of Maryfest Inc., the nonprofit group that puts on the Marysville Strawberry Festival each year, came up with the float theme, which changes each year.

Marysville joins floats from Olympia and Puyallup as the three cities representing Washington in the Holiday Bowl parade.

Carol Kapua, Maryfest director, says she’s glad to have the chance to display the Strawberry Festival on national television "as an ambassador for our wonderful city."

"It’s pretty exciting to think that our small community of Marysville could put out a float that would attract attention outside of our Northwest hosting group of Oregon, Washington and Canada," Kapua said. "It’s a good representation for the city."

Although Holiday Bowl organizers are contributing to Maryfest to offset the cost of transporting the Strawberry Festival float to California, the three festival volunteers who will travel to San Diego must pay their own way. Those wishing to donate to the float trip may send their contributions to Maryfest Inc., P.O. Box 855, Marysville, WA 98270. For more information about the Strawberry Festival float, call Carol Kapua at 360-659-4706.

You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097

or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.