The Vancouver Island Parrotheads wowed the crowds with a spectacular float at the Ukee Days Parade on July 29/06 in Ucluelet. In fact, our float won the coveted blue ribbon for "Best Club Float". If strutting our stuff to "Volcano" and handing out leis and suckers wasn't enough, the 7-foot-tall realistic-looking papier mache volcano blowing smoke and bubbles clinched us the top honours. Checkout the PHOTO GALLERY and see it for yourself!

The VIPs (especially the Varns Family) spent many hours getting the float to the finishing stage including shoveling 4,000 pounds of sand to recreate our volcanic island scene. The night of July 28th found the rest of the group at the Varns' sipping frozen concoctions and adding the final touches including christening our wrecked rowboat the "Black Pearl" - we also have some Johnny Depp fans (read fanatics) in the crowd... Somehow the float was built with no injuries and only minor hangovers to speak of.

The morning of the parade the VIPs reconvened at the Varns', rebuilt the portions of the float we didn't want vandalized or wilted by the fog, and made our way to the marshaling/judging area. We had the pleasure of being held between our local MP and the "Bear Naked Ladies" of the West Coast Bear Aware Committee who were decked out in little more than trash cans for the parade (they also won their category).

As the judging committee approached our float lead by the Mayor of Ucluelet, Her Worship Dianne St. Jacques, the VIPs cranked "Volcano" and hammed it up enough to bring more than a few smiles and chuckles with no Jose Cuervo involved. After waiting with much anticipation, the judges returned with the blue ribbon.

As the parade wound its way through Ucluelet down to the Ukee Days grounds at the Seaplane Base, it was flattering and, frankly, amazing to hear all the cheering and see countless people take photos of our float. People saw how much fun we were having which resulted in countless inquiries of how they too could become a Parrothead! We can't deny the fact that they liked us, they really liked us!! Everyone wanted to be leied by our bevy of beauties - if only the ladies had a margarita for every time they heard that original comment.

The VIPs had a great time with our Ukee Days float and planning has already started for next year. Thanks to the Varns Clan (lead by Shirley and Riley), Lorane, Patsy, Lisa, Gord, Maureen, John, Rose-Marie, Blain, Chris, and our 'keet Miranda. Special thanks to Walter McBrine for loaning us his flat deck. See you next year!