Beth and David Hammer left Glen Allen to come to Glen Allen Day.
"We had to move away," Beth Hammer laughed, "to come back and attend an event we used to live a mile away from."
Hanover County residents now, the Hammers, with 5-year-old daughter, Emma, turned out early -- equipped with folding chairs and fortified with fresh bagels against the early fall coolness -- for the down-home day's community parade.
"We just heard it was a good event, a good parade and a good time afterward," Beth Hammer said.
Thousands of wide-eyed children, watchful parents, indulgent grandparents, glad-handing politicians, regular folks and dolled-up dogs wearing sunglasses came out to enjoy the parade, the arts and crafts, the kids' games, the classic car show, the bands, politicking and petting zoo at Glen Allen Day in Henrico County's Crump Park.
Nine-year-old Quinn Kennedy clambered up the Army recruiters' popular rock-climbing wall.
"Good grip, good grip," Sgt. Jacob Strahan of Hanover, an Iraq War veteran, urged the young climbers.
"It was really fun," the western Henrico girl said. "I want to do it again."
Henrico Police Sgt. Linda Toney was a good sport and rode her 10-year-old son's elementary school float with a career-choices theme. The career she represented? Hey, police officer.
Gracen Long, who is 2 and was festive with pink bows in her hair, liked the goats at the petting zoo.
"She was anxious to feed them," mom Nicole Long said as her daughter tugged at her arm, ready to find something else fascinating to look at, to touch, to do.
Five-year-old Olivia Wilson let loose her little balloon.
"Look," Kim Wilson called to her daughter, "it's going up."
The balloon floated skyward -- on its way to Bosco.
"Our dog just died," Kim Wilson explained to a passerby, "and we're sending it to him."
Contact Peter Bacqué at (804) 649-6813 or pbacque@timesdispatch.com.
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