Dutch Flat 4th of July water hijinks and parade

Wild and woolly during its Gold Rush days, California’s town of Dutch Flat with a population today of about 200 (“If everybody’s home,” a local adds) turns pretty wild again on July 4th. The community’s annual parade loops around town, attracting moms, dogs, kids, dolls, old cars, and community leaders. But it’s the water hijinks during the morning’s festivities that bring out the crowds.
On the sidelines, kids and adults alike man their stations with serious water-fight artillery. Forget wimpy squirt guns. Think water blasters, super soakers and buckets, all at the ready to drench anybody and everybody (although the water-ready soldiers respect the likes of cameras, innocent bystanders, old cars, the grand marshal and color guard). And wait till the local CalFire station’s two fire trucks roll past with the granddaddy of super soaker hoses! Says another local preparing for battle, “We take our water fights very seriously here.”
Nobody seems to know when and how the water-fight tradition began, but it has been this way for many decades, if not longer. Cruise through the photo gallery below to get a feel for the Sierra Nevada small town fun and for a Gold Rush community enjoying a Dutch Flat 4th of July! (click on each image to see a full-size version with description).
Red, white and blue
Grab your seat early
Kicked back at Dutch Flat Hotel
Hands up!
Honor the color guard
Howdy, grand marshal
American girls and dolls
Flags for all
A life in Dutch Flat
Say hi to Margie
Well protected for water hijinks
Tossing flowers, playing tunes
Antique cars on parade
Antique snow plow
CalFire is all grins and giggles
No holding back with CalFire
But they fight back
Not just for kids
CalFire, Alta Station
You want it? You got it!
Sideline craziness
Hit me if you can
Star-spangled banner
Thumbs up
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