Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 5, 1994 TAG: 9407050076
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
They had their faces painted by Katherine DeVine for the event. Or they wore masks they made themselves, or they carried banners of fish and other animals that they painted from cutouts on cardboard.
Jonathan Edwards, 7, of Roanoke, said his mask represented "whatever you want it to be called." His sister, Shaune Edwards, 8, said she painted hers to represent a cat or a star.
The procession was led by Liz Clay and Mark Nyhus, the queen and king of the parade. DeVine said they also could have been called Pied Pipers.
It still was sprinkling, so the route was abbreviated to two blocks under the awnings along Market Street.
Matthew Faus, 18 months, and Tabitha Faus, 30 months, brought up the rear. They wanted to march further and had to be corraled and turned back toward Market Square.
The parade capped an afternoon of events that attracted a good crowd until the rain hit about 3 p.m.
Amy Chattin, education coordinator for Mill Mountain Zoo, said she gave away more than 150 zoo passes to children who petted the animals. A rabbit sat peacefully on the display table; volunteers Robert Ball and Lauren Lowe, both 12, cradled a ball python and a playful skunk.
The Science Museum of Western Virginia admitted children free during the afternoon, although their parents had to pay. Linda Blair, museum spokeswoman, said 343 people - a very good crowd for a Sunday - went through the exhibits.
The band Stowe and Lowe entertained on the square, and they were joined by a family from Haiti playing the drums.
Unlike the parade, the music and artists in stalls along the square are Sunday events all summer.
by CNB