The day started damp, leftovers from the night's rain, but quickly cheered with an autumn sun peeking through the hickories. Breakfast, coffee-to-go, pawing at the BRO (the Bull Run Observer, not the bro) to find the location for parking, then we're off.

According to E. Bruce Davis, staff writer for the BRO:

The thousands of people who attend from 9-4p.m., rain or shine, will see from any vantage point the majesty of the town's past, alongside the new development and buildings designed to herald a future pedestrian-friendly town.

Cool, 58F, with an improbably blue sky and some light wind. Perfect for viewing the majesty of Haymarket. Ahem, right.

Parking was easy and after depositing one girl with her school group, we took up curbside residence in front of the uninspired Town Hall, waiting for the parade. I've missed the past three Haymarket Days for various reasons, but was glad to see strong (almost too crowded) attendance and plenty of parade entries. My favorites: the pug wearing campaign stickers, the high school band, and, of course, my kid waving with her preschool group.

The inimitable Bruce Roemmelt stopped over to greet his mountain neighbors, as did most of the professional politicians (it's an election year in Virginia), but it was odd to see Delegate Bob driving a car by himself in the parade. Laura suggested that I could perhaps join him to discuss our political differences.

Conspicuous by their absence, the Gainesvill Ruritans didn't organize this year's event. They'll be putting on the Pumpkin Pandemonium in a couple of weeks.

Post-parade, we dove into the scrum of booths and vendors in the lot next to Haymarket Baptist Church, and had nice visits with Bruce again, and Louise Jamison, Grand Marshall of Haymarket Day today and a Prince William educator for many, many years. We were soon to be ejected by fussing kids and wind-whipped balloons. It was declared, "this is no fun," so it's off to lunch with friends at a local pizza place, where we consumed half of the chairs in the place, along with some tasty pizzas.

All in all, a perfect small-town day.