The West Mankato Kiddie Parade
How does a neighborhood tradition last for decades? We went to West Mankato for the annual 4th of July Kiddie Parade to find out.
The parade started as a simple neighborhood walk and has run for more than 47 years. Long-time residents tell how it grew, and families now come back whose parents marched in it. As one resident put it, "It's what you want to have in your past and in your future."
In this video:
- How the parade started
- Why the neighbors are the ones throwing candy at the marching kids
- How it changed from homemade Halloween-style costumes and cupcakes to a simple red, white and blue celebration
- The families who took turns keeping the parade going
- A resident who swore she would leave at 18, then came back to raise her own kids in her childhood neighborhood
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