Victoria Day in Woodstock

Preston Scout House Alumni Band

Monday, May 18 was a sunny but somewhat cool day weather-wise in Woodstock Ontario but it was anything but cool as far as Victoria Day entertainment. With my husband/partner in crime I took in the parade for the first time in years. How changed it is. We stood with our backs to the warming sun, in our jackets, hands in our pockets, for the entire parade and loved it.

There was a good mix of marching bands and floats with lots of different Shriners' clubs entertaining with their scooters, motorcycles, toy cars and larger hobby cars. It seemed that each new group that came along was in or on a larger, more expensive vehicle. And they all were having fun, darting in and out, waving to the crowd. Lots of boys with their toys.

The bands were in town for the Band Tattoo which got under way at 2 pm at the Community Centre Arena. I have never sat through a band tattoo--who knows how it got its name?--but this one was well worth the sit. For over three hours bands of all kinds (listed below with info on each one) entertained the good-sized crowd. I loved the Preston Scout House Alumni Band with its huge numbers, precision marching and excellent playing. I did wonder why they don't lose the tiny shorts on the conductor and the flag carriers, though. The Burlington Teen Tour Band was excellent as well, as a large, uniform group. The Salvation Army Band made me think of Friday nights on Woodstock's main street with the band playing hymns on corners as I went with one of my parents to one shop or another.

So Victoria Day in Woodstock was great for us. Especially as it didn't rain!