There are those who want an explanation for the Hooker Day Parade, and there are those who will join in the fun without worrying about the purpose.
When kids decide to drop down and do backbends in the middle of the street, you don’t question why.
Introspection has a place, but not on a day like this.
The Hooker Day Parade is a tradition started by former Mayor Mike Peters.
It embraces the weird.
It’s a pep rally in motion for Hartford.
It’s an excuse to dress up, throw candy and beads, and hang out Downtown during the afternoon.
There is no shortage of sources of aggravation in this city, from the numerous mini-scandals in City Hall to blighted properties and absentee landlords, to the ATVs and crotch rockets causing disruption day and night.
This short parade is a brief distraction from those things.
The time for registration and staging is about twice the length of the actual parade. After walking a few short blocks, the movement comes to a halt where more entertainment is provided outside of the bars and restaurants across from Bushnell Park.
Some people immediately hopped in their cars and left. Others dawdled along Asylum Street.
Between the Milky Ways thrown, bags of caramel popcorn handed out by the Hartford Baking Company, and the free buffet at Black-eyed Sally’s, nobody had to leave hungry.
