INNISFAIL — Just four days earlier, Innisfail was pounded by a ferocious rain storm.
The weather outlook the rest of the week did not look promising. More rain was forecast for the weekend of June 17 to 19; the biggest one on the calendar for Innisfailians.
The 61st annual Daines Pro Rodeo at the Daines Ranch began on Friday (June 17) in front of sell-out crowds, and then Saturday morning brought plenty of ominous clouds.
It was also cold. But the crowds came anyways.
By 10 a.m., hundreds of citizens had already lined the downtown route for the 2022 Innisfail Rotary Pro Rodeo Parade.
Scores and scores of parade lovers had packed the auditorium at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion Branch 104 beforehand to take in the pancake breakfast.
When they were done, citizens eagerly headed outside to find a special spot to watch the parade.
They dressed warmly. They had hot coffee.
Children could not sit still in anticipation of all the candy that would surely come their way.
At Bankers Corner, they all listened to Caroline singer/songwriter Allen Christie’s foot stomping, toe-tappin' tunes.
And then 10:30 a.m. arrived. There was no rain. Only joy. The parade had started.
