Headless mascots could be traumatic for parade-goers

By Carrie Coppernoll

Published: November 20, 2007

A bunch of boats restored my faith in parades.

Last month, I encountered a plethora of shouting spectators at the Oklahoma Centennial Parade. They shouted at me, they shouted at little kids — there was no end to their parade-going rage.

So as a friend and I plopped down Saturday evening on the shore of the Oklahoma River for the Devon Energy Centennial River Parade, I wondered if maybe I would be yelled at before this parade as well. Watchers of Centennial-theme parades seem to be very serious; who knew parade-watching was so somber?

Thankfully, no one told me to move or yelled at children. In fact, everyone seemed pleasant and happy to see all the beautiful boats. Turns out, parades are still fun.

Thousands of spectators lined the banks of the fourth annual river parade. Last year, more than 40,000 people watched the free show, saidevent organizers.

The corporate boats were all lovely, and I enjoyed seeing the maiden voyage of the Devon Discovery, a cruiser that will ferry passengers up and down the river starting early next year. The floating monorail was especially interesting. David's Sport Center sponsored a boat with a live band, a giant Centennial logo and a covered wagon. I have no clue how all that stuff stayed afloat. It was impressive. Boat City Prop Shop and the American Indian Cultural Center created a boat that included live drumming and dancing. I also enjoyed the individuals who decorated their personal boats and brought them out on the water.

All was going well until disaster struck.

One of the boats included mascots from several sports teams — Rowdy of the Oklahoma RedHawks, Sooner of the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz and some other animal I didn't recognize. Folks on the boat would play their own music over the Christmas tunes on the PA system at Regatta Park. Although slightly obnoxious, that wasn't the disaster. The catastrophe: between songs the mascots took their heads off.

I was traumatized.

I saw their faces — their human faces. I felt like I was seeing something I shouldn't, like the mall Santa pulling off his beard during his break or watching Snow White get into her mini-van in the Disney World parking lot.

I have a feeling that if as a child I saw mascots pulling off their heads, I would have been horrified. The boat's turn in the parade finally arrived, and the mascots put their heads back on for the rest of the show. Thank goodness.

Despite the trauma of the headless mascots, the parade was wonderful and no one was mean to my friend and me. I'll be back next year, and hopefully no one will lose their head, mascot or otherwise.

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