GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Those courageous enough to brave the cold and gray skies threatening rain, found that even a little weather couldn’t stop Gridley from celebrating at Red Suspenders Days last Saturday, May 18^th. The 58^th annual event was host to an array of vendors, crowd pleasing activities, and of course the parade, which honors our heroic firefighters.

The rain did spoil some of the fun unfortunately. Numerous vendors pulled out at the last minute, the Gridley Little League Pancake Breakfast was cancelled and the grand Boy Scouts District Championship Pinewood Derby was rescheduled.

Still, there was a good time to be had. The vendors that stayed strong and turned out did brisk business. The mechanical bull saw plenty of riders, the look-a-like princesses were a huge hit, and the Gridley FFA raked it in selling a variety of plants, from succulents to tomatoes.

The crowd really began to get warmed up as the racers at this year’s Bed Races took to Virginia street at 10:00 am. The Gridley Blues, sponsored by Butte Auto Parts, and the Gridley Track beds were the first at the line. The winners, the Gridley Blues, took on the Company 74 Firefighters bed. The Gridley Blues came away with the win, with Gridley Track a close second and Company 74 third. As a consolation, Company 74 took the win for “Best Bed.”

A helicopter flyover signaled the parade would start shortly thereafter. The theme of Red Suspenders Day 2019, “Butte Strong” honored this year’s special guests, Paradise Camp Fire Survivors. Survivors were the first to take the parade route behind the color guard, provided by Gridley Boy Scout Troop 26, and motorcycle escorts from Gridley-Biggs Police Department.

As always, the parade featured fire engines, from vintage styles to the latest technology, along with firefighting equipment, search and rescue units and crews from all over the Butte and Sutter County areas. Parade entries included a huge fire-breathing dragon, Orchard Hospital’s 70^th anniversary float, the Butte County Royal Court, classic cars, including the Feather River Model A’s Club, and a mariachi band accompanied by dancing horses, just to name a few.

A break after the parade allowed visitors time to check out the vendors before gathering to watch easily one of the crowd’s favorite events, the Firefighter games. Onlookers were sprayed with water as firefighters fought to maintain control of their hoses while pushing a barrel through the streets. Gridley, Biggs, Oroville and the Explorer teams battled it out, with Oroville securing the win.