Walnut Creek Struts Its Stuff Down Main Street

The motorcycle police officers did their intricate figure-8 pattern in the middle of Main Street and kicked off the Walnut Festival's twilight parade Saturday.

A couple slots behind them was the crew from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

"Look, fire truck!" piped up 2-year-old Samuel Ortiz, perched on the shoulders of his uncle Tony Ayala of Concord, standing on the crowded Main Street sidewalk.

Then the fire truck sounded its siren and Samuel clapped his hands to his ears.

They were waiting for Samuel's cousin Anthony Ayala, age 7, parading with the Concord Kung Fu contingent.

Another few slots behind the fire truck came a vintage car bearing Florence Simmons, Miss Walnut Creek of 1937, whose title brought an enthusiastic round of applause. She was announced with a PA system in the bed of a pickup truck by announcer Teddy Porter, ably assisted by Pat Kinnicutt, who tracked the roster of groups in the parade as they came by.

Watch Patch for updates as we download more photos from the parade.