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For the primary time in 4 years, Calgary Expo’s Parade of Wonders returned to Stephen Avenue Friday morning, boasting hundreds of elaborately dressed followers marching by means of downtown.
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The sunshine and blue skies have been a reduction for organizers and members, particularly after final yr’s freak snowstorm canceled the parade on the eleventh hour after it was scheduled to happen after a three-year absence as a result of pandemic.
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Organizers didn’t have official numbers, however Andrew Moyes, vice chairman of Fan Expo HQ, mentioned the mix of official parade members and observers standing within the streets was within the hundreds.
The parade started at 10:30 a.m. with a highschool band blasting a jaunty rendition of Neil Diamond’s Candy Caroline and ended with a suitably epic opening ceremony at Olympic Plaza, the place Calgary Expo celebrities reminiscent of Terminator 2 star Robert Patrick, The Children within the Corridor Dave Foley, Scott Thompson and Mark McKinney, Star Trek: Picard star Todd Stashwick, Calgary Expo mainstay and authentic Hulk Lou Ferrigno and What We Do within the Shadows star Harvey Guillen are all white-hatted by mayor Jyoti Gondek, who was neatly dressed as Edward Scissorhands for the proceedings.
Whereas the Calgary Expo technically opened its doorways Thursday evening at Stampede Park, the Olympic Plaza ceremony marked the official kickoff and got here full with fireworks and streamers. Whereas Fan Expo HQ hosts 16 fan conventions throughout North America, Calgary is the one metropolis to get a parade.
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“I want we may do one in each metropolis,” Moyes mentioned. “It is an effective way to deliver fandom to town. We’re away from the Stampede grounds, after all, so seeing these costumed characters come by means of the artery of town is de facto, actually cool. All of it culminates in Olympic Park, which turns into a giant celebration the place we’ve celebrities carrying white hats and doing every kind of stuff. You’ll be able to see the vitality rise.”
Extra to come back. . .
![The Calgary Expo Parade of Wonders gathers at Olympic Plaza on Friday morning.](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/wonders3.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&sig=qm4neMv8kDPDxpx2KOZcWA)
![Participants prepare for the Calgary Expo Parade of Wonders at Olympic Plaza on Friday morning.](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/wonders2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&sig=19vIkOzS7d5-7P9fI0ZTZg)