Strange parade

A DigitalNZ Story by Courtney Johnston

My favourite story about a New Zealand parade is that of the 1960 Hastings Blossom Parade. The annual event - inaugurated in 1950, still running - welcomes Spring into the region. In 1960 heavy rain delayed the parade, and many in the crowd sought shelter in nearby bars. Eventually brawls broke out, and the local firemen had to turn the firehoses on the now rowdy crowd. I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it. I'm amazed this hasn't cropped up as a loss-of-childhood-innocence moment in a short story or novel yet.