Fourth of July Parade to Raise Crane Awareness
Every year, CCCC crane dancers participate in the Steamboat Springs’ 4th of July Parade. Participation in this parade helps raise awareness of Sandhill Cranes and our annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival. Aside from walking in the parade, CCCC crane dancers do a short dance routine to different music every year. And, our volunteers pass out origami cranes to parade spectators. CCCC has frequently won the “Best Group” Award for their dancing in the parade.
Every year, CCCC records a video of the crane dancers. Scroll down to see each year’s video. Videos are also on our YouTube channel: Colorado Cranes.
Many thanks to all the crane dancers and volunteers that help in every 4th of July parade.
2023
The 2023 performance was set to “Surfin’ Bird” by the Trashmen. Choreography was done by Sarah Blakeslee. Thank you to all the crane dancers!
2022
The 2022 performance was set to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” (from the movie Trolls). Choreography was done by Wendy Mikelson. Many thanks to all the crane dancers!
The crane dancers created a longer video version of their 4th of July dance before the parade.
Check out some pictures (scroll to see them all):
2021
The crane dancers created a longer video version of their 4th of July dance before the parade.
The 2021 performance was set to Abba’s “Dancing Queen”, with new lyrics written by Jo and Doug Smith, vocals by Pam Pierce, and choreography by Wendy Mikelson. Many thanks to all the crane dancers!
Check out some pictures (scroll to see them all):
2020
When the COVID-19 virus threatened the 2020 4th of July Parade, the CCCC crane dancers did not bow in defeat. Instead, they created a video version of their performance (with masked cranes and proper social distancing) in a beautiful field on a lovely, sunny day.
The 2020 performance was set to David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”, since cranes are the best dancers in the animal kingdom!
2019
In 2019, CCCC crane dancers won the award for Best Group for the 2nd year in a row. The 2019 parade theme was American Superheros. Volunteers flew kites graciously provided by Heather Henson of IBEX Puppetry, and danced along the route. This year there were 2 crane chicks in Sandy the Supercrane’s nest. The origami cranes passed out to parade spectators by crane colts were a great crowd pleaser.
Crane festival volunteer Tresa Moulton captured this video:
After the Steamboat Springs parade some of the cranes flew down to Yampa, CO to participate in their parade. They took 2nd and 3rd place prizes in that parade. Here they are after landing in Yampa:
Check out some pictures (scroll to see them all):
2018
CCCC volunteers won the award for Best Original Theme in Steamboat Springs’ 2018 4th of July Parade! They had fun dancing and flying kites graciously provided by Heather Henson of IBEX Puppetry. Our crane colts passed out origami cranes to parade spectators.
2017
Yampa Valley Crane Festival volunteers had fun dancing in Steamboat Springs’ 4th of July Parade. Kites were graciously provided by Heather Hensen of IBEX Puppetry and origami cranes that were handed out to spectators were folded by festival volunteers.
2016
Yampa Valley Crane Festival volunteers won the Best Theme category in Steamboat Springs’ 2016 4th of July Parade. They had fun dancing and flying kites graciously provided by Heather Hensen of IBEX Puppetry.
2015
Yampa Valley Crane Festival volunteers had a great time marching and dancing in the 4th of July Parade in Steamboat Springs, Colorado on July 4, 2015. A crane chick in her nest circled the dancing colts and cranes. A big shout out to Heather Hensen of Ibex Puppetry for the use of her crane kites.
