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 Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.
Snohomish County entertainment By Diane Wright
MARYSVILLE Walter Taucher was spotted last year preening in front of a large mirror at the Marysville Strawberry Festival. Of course, it was understandable. As a Seafair Pirate, his taste in clothing runs somewhere between Jean Lafitte and Liberace. "I think it was my Liz Claiborne pirate wear," Taucher said with a laugh. "I actually think I was looking in the mirror and wondering if it was a bit much." Nobody ever accused the Seafair Pirates of being shy and retiring. They'll bring their trademark brand of sword-waving zaniness to the Marysville Strawberry Festival on June 19. The festival is one of the pirates' favorites, said Mark Jensen, a Seafair Pirate and the group's spokesman. "The crowd appreciates us," he said. "When the crowd screams 'Here comes the pirates!' the adrenaline flows, and when the adrenaline flows, the act is better."
"There were a lot of people I knew, people calling my name," he said. "That happens a lot with some of these guys. A lot of acquaintances and friends bring their kids to the parade. This year, 25 people said they'd be upset if they don't see me." The parade draws an estimated crowd of 40,000 and has more than 120 floats, drill teams, marching bands, equestrians and other groups, all snaking along State Avenue. "It's kind of the crowning moment of the festival," said Doug Buell, the city's community-information officer. The parade usually goes from State Avenue south to Third Street. But because of road construction, the new route may take a short detour off State, turning east on Fourth Street, south on Columbia Avenue and east on Third, ending at Third and Alder Avenue. A decision on the parade route will be made by June 17. This year, the parade has drawn talent from as far as Astoria, Ore., and Vancouver Island. Drill teams such as North Seattle Queens alternate with such groups as the Sky Valley Stock Antique and Tractor Club. The Children's Burn Foundation will feature an antique firetruck with calendar firefighters from past and future years. New this year will be the Zambini Brothers, featuring giant puppets from Vashon Island. The Marysville-Pilchuck High School marching band is in the parade, as well as Scottish pipe bands. "I think that parades get in your blood," parade coordinator Carol Kapua said. "You make a lot of new friends; you travel. It's a lot of hard work, a lot of hurry up and wait. But the organizations make it fun." The incoming Seafair Pirate captain, Pete Klassell, is from Lynnwood, and about a quarter of the 52 active pirates live in Snohomish County. Though their philanthropy is legendary — the Pirates do more than 116 events a year and handed out 7,000 toys at Christmas — "we are a charity club, but we definitely are not a polite group with each other," Taucher said. "This is the opposite of your Rotary or Lions Club. This is people who yell and scream and throw chairs, but everybody's there for each other." Diane Wright: 425-745-7815 or dwright@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company
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