Wonderfulness Parade prepares to march through Wrangell

"I've always liked parades because you can dress up as crazy as you want," said Anny Newport, organizer of the upcoming Wonderfulness Parade.

Newport has brought her love of costumes and parades everywhere she's lived. Over the years she has collected a wide variety of costumes, and said she loves to be a part of parades. When not in a parade or in costume, she also goes around town as the self-described "Free Toy Fairy," leaving free toys around town for kids to find. The Wonderfulness Parade has been a longstanding hobby of hers.

"The very first one we had was out at Tyler's Logging Camp on Zarembo Island. It would have been 1978, I'll say," Newport said. "We were just a bunch of women who didn't have anything [to do] ... We just got some funny stuff together and had a parade. I don't know where the word came from, 'wonderfulness.'"

Before moving to Wrangell, Newport and her family lived in Petersburg for many years. She said that she held Wonderfulness Parades in Petersburg and they grew in size and popularity each year. She came to Wrangell around 1998, and has been trying to bring the Wonderfulness Parade back. She attempted to organize a parade in the early 2000s, she said, but was disappointed by the turnout and the short distance for the parade to march. She said the last parade she was in was the Fourth of July parade this year. Due to some medical issues, she has had to slow down her passion a bit.

"I guess you could say I got real old, real quick," Newport said. "That stopped me because I didn't like standing around for the parade to start."

This year, she said, the parade will be marching from the city docks and down Front Street before turning to the Nolan Center. Everyone is invited to participate. Men, women, children, and even friendly pets are welcome in the parade. The parade is mostly meant for everyone, especially kids, to just have fun dressing up and being in a parade.

"No commercial acts or organizations, and no competition," Newport said. "That was another thing that kind of discourages kids from entering because they're focused on trying to be the winner. This way it's just fun."

The Wonderfulness Parade will kick off at noon, August 18. Anyone wishing to learn more about the parade can contact Newport at (907) 305-1255.