SNOHOMISH — Crimson capes flap in the breeze.
Little girls wave red and white pompoms and gaze, in awe, at the queen.
Students march by in devil horns and halos, coconut bras, football jerseys, fishnet stockings — all red, white and black.
Following an age-old tradition, Snohomish High School students paraded through town Friday in advance of homecoming. Known as Serpentine, the parade is one of just a few in the state that involves students leaving class to share school spirit with the community, said J. Marie Riche, a spokeswoman for the Snohomish School District.
Proud parents, envious children and nostalgic alumni line the parade route to cheer for today’s Panthers.
“We’re like football fans on steroids,” said Cristy Gillespie, grabbing strands of red beads from her purse to distribute to other moms. “Anything goes.”
She’s taken her daughters to Serpentine every year of their lives. On Friday, she cheered and waved as her oldest, sophomore Jessica Gillespie, marched by with the high school flag corp.
Senior Juliet Desmarais remembers watching the parade as a girl. Her favorite part was always seeing the homecoming queen ride by in a convertible, a glittery tiara on her head.
“I used to think the queen was so cool,” Desmarais said. “I just thought she was really pretty.”
On Friday, it was her turn in the convertible. Wearing a red gown and a sparkly crown, she rode through town at the front of the parade.
“It’s kind of overwhelming,” the queen said. “There’s so many people who yell at me and cheer for me. It’s so much fun!”
Tammy Holten remembers shouting, “Panther Pride” as she walked through town in her Snohomish cheerleader uniform. On Friday, her 11-year-old daughter, Kourtney, wore the uniform and mom’s red Class of ‘89 letter jacket.
Together, they stood on First Street, waiting for Holten’s other daughter, Ashley, to carry on the tradition as a Panther freshman.
“Cheerleaders always wore their uniforms,” Holten recalled. “The band played. Football players rode in a fire truck.”
The scene repeated on Friday, with football players perched on top of a fire truck and the band playing fight songs.
This Serpentine was the first since Glacier Peak High School opened and Snohomish became a two high school town. Glacier Peak had an “upcoming” celebration last week, since it doesn’t have any alumni to welcome back at homecoming.
Classes went on as usual Friday, but some Glacier Peak students got permission from their parents to skip school and watch the parade.
Melissa Vandall traded the red and white garb she used to wear in Serpentine for a navy blue Glacier Peak cheerleading uniform. She was sad to be on the sidelines, but glad to witness the tradition. She used to love participating.
“You just kind of get a rush because it’s so fun and you’re with friends,” she said. “You feel the tradition. You feel connected.”
Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.
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