The excitement was palpable.  Despite the local meteorologists' scare tactics and unrelenting rain, homecoming must go on for St. Anthony Village High School, and so must its homecoming parade!

This year’s inaugural invisible parade was a show-stopper and tough to top for future Huskies. As the parade kicked off, cheers erupted from the crowd. The band sounded its best as it played the tune of “Across the Field” and the choir proudly sang in chorus to honor our blue and white.

Led by the St. Anthony Police and Fire Departments, the invisible parade went off unhitched with all of SAVHS’ fall sports and activities represented.  The tennis team threw invisible tennis balls to the throngs of students gathered to watch. It was a standing-room only crowd 

“Of all the invisible parades we’ve had, this was one of them,” Wilshire Park Elementary principal Maria Roberts said admiringly as she watched the invisible procession go by. 

Then, suddenly, a gust of wind swept through St. Anthony Village, causing a momentary panic. The townsfolk wondered if the invisible parade had been blown away, lost forever in the unseen currents. But, just as quickly as it disappeared, the invisible parade reassembled itself, with invisible participants regaining their composure.

The elementary kids lined the playground fences and teemed with excitement as the football team and homecoming court passed them by on invisible floats that would have made Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade blush with envy. “People have had invisible lawn chairs and blankets in my yard since last night. They’re all soaking wet now,” one neighbor laughed. In what could have been said in 30 seconds, but took more like five minutes, parade grand marshal Chris Ravndal commented, “This is great! The Finns of Cokato have been doing this for years, I’m honored to be a part of this remarkable celebration of school spirit!” The three-minute parade was long over when the grand marshall finished talking.   

Will we do it again next year? Only time and the weather will tell.

Go Huskies!