Wild Over Water - Pueblo West paraders go to great lengths to get wet.
written by John Norton of the Pueblo Chieftain

As Kathy Elser, part of the Independent Heart Home Care contingent in the Pueblo West’s annual Fourth of July parade, reached the end of the route, she could be heard to say, “Squirt me, squirt me. Toward the end, I just wanted them to squirt me.”

 Pueblo West’s “Hometown Parade — Wet n Dry” has seen hotter days but even as the temperature hovered between the high 70s and low 80s Sunday morning, people marching the almost two-mile route along Joe Martinez Boulevard still appreciated a cool spray of water.

 Elser was in the “Dry” portion of the parade, and while spectators armed with a colorful array of water guns, respected that, they spared little time drenching one another and the marchers in the wet portion of the parade that came later.

 Pueblo West’s annual parade has become a regional draw, bringing anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 people lining Joe Martinez Boulevard to squirt each other and be squirted by the passing parade entries.

The Pueblo West Chamber of Commerce said there were more than 68 entries in the parade, all but 15 in the wet category, meaning they could be squirted by the spectators. “We were getting phone calls from Canon City, Pueblo, La Junta and as far away as Lamar,”. “We even had people from Ohio who just gave us a donation.”

 Nearly everyone attending the parade had a water gun of some kind — from hand-held pistols to Supersoakers and syringe-like pump squirt guns four and five feet long.

 A trio of young snipers positioned themselves in the bed of a pickup at the end of the parade. Nathan and Drew Jones, 10 and 13, and Jackson Brunetto, 13, had five plastic totes in the pickup bed filled with more than 100 gallons of water they brought to fill their guns.

 Nathan and Jackson said they came up with another idea — using the lids from the totes to line the back of the truck bed like ramparts. After the parade, Nathan said it worked well when parade participants opened fire on them, even though by then he’d gotten soaked after leaving the fortress.

 Nearly everyone along the front lines was wet by the time the parade ended. For an hour before it started, spectators were squirting each other individually and at times, forming skirmish bands to attack the people across the street, only to be countered with a barrage of water from the defenders.

 This being an election year, there was no shortage of politicians on hand.

 County Commissioners John Cordova and Jeff Chostner got a drenching as did state house hopeful Angela Giron.

 Most of the parade participants fired back, including the Pueblo West Fire Department, experts at spraying water. Some of the trucks along the route and in the parade had massive water tanks to provide enough ammunition. One float, from the Secal Swim League, had gun ports to protect its members as they sprayed spectators.

2009 JULY 4TH CELEBRATION

Pueblo West celebrates (really) wet Fourth of July
written by Mike Spence of the Pueblo West View

More than 20,000 spectators participate in the annual event.

Pueblo West has long been known for its traditional "wet" parade where the spectators and the parade participants trade volleys of water along the way.

The celebration was so inviting that Mother Nature decided to join in, sending celebration goers scrambling for cover during a rain-drenched afternoon.

The extra rain didn't do much to dampen the festivities. More than 20,000 people attended the morning race, Lions' Club Breakfast and parade and partook of the offerings of vendors, including a Bounce Town set up for children, horseback rides, helicopter rides and a variety of food and drink. The July 4 festivities were an early birthday of sorts for Pueblo West, which will officially celebrate its 40th birthday this fall. Members of the Pueblo West History Association opened the Pueblo West time capsule after the parade concluded. The capsule was last opened 20 years ago. The PWHA is looking for submissions to put in a new time capsule that will be sealed during Pueblo West's official 40th birthday celebration.

Spectators chilled in the afternoon to the music of Hi Fidelity. The evening dance took a break for the 30-minute fireworks display.

The event was an unqualified success. Despite the difficult economy, the Pueblo West Chamber of Commerce saw its hard work pay off. More than 20 additional vendors participated this year. In a year in which many fireworks shows were canceled across the state, the chamber recruited Loaf 'N Jug and St's Pourhouse to sponsor the fireworks display.

Parade winners

Grand Marshall's choice - Southern Colorado Pop Warner
Best theme - Studio Rio
Judges' choice - Pueblo West Employees
Honorable mention - Pueblo Chapel