More than 18,000 people packed into Colfax Friday night for the annual Independence Day celebration. Attendance was light during the day, but the streets began to fill as the workday ended for most families.

“The general consensus is that it seemed to be a much younger crowd,” noted Ken Delfino, president of Colfax Pride, the organization hosting the event.

More than 70 vendors — with six signing up the morning of the festival — lined downtown. Vendors indicated the peak activity started at 7 p.m., Delfino added. “Many of the food vendors left with no product remaining.”

Placer County Sheriff’s Sgt. Troy Minton-Sander reported only four alcohol-related arrests during the festival. Twenty-four deputies patrolled the streets with the assistance of six California Highway Patrol officers.

Also on hand to assist the event volunteers were AMR, CalFire and Colfax Volunteer Fire Department personnel.

“The event went well,” Minton-Sander said. “The streets were filled form one end to the other.”

The fireworks extravaganza lasted longer than expected, Delfino noted, adding the grand finale was briefly delayed when a UP freighter passed through town.

“(Railroad) traffic was supposed to be stopped between 5 and 10 p.m.,” explained Delfino.

Nevertheless, the timing couldn’t have been better as “Chariots of Fire” played over the loud speakers as the train roared through town.

“The roar of the downtown crowd could be heard on Whitcomb Avenue after the grand finale,” Delfino said.

Lions Club Parade

With the late arrival of the Amtrak, the noon start of the annual Lions Club parade was delayed 45 minutes, reported parade chairman Mike Maynard.

“All in all, it went good,” Maynard said. “We’re going to look at starting earlier next year.”

Once the train had passed through, the Placer County Sheriff’s Honor Guard lead more than 50 vehicles, fire trucks and floats through town. At the intersection of Main and Grass Valley Streets, the parade paused as a group of doves were released.

Proclaimed overall winner was a float entered by Creative Kids Pre-School in Meadow Vista.

The President’s Choice award went to the Colfax Chamber of Commerce entry and the Best Costume award was given to the Quinn Family Klowns, a 40-year tradition in Colfax’s parade.

Highlight of the parade for at least one family was the surprise arrival of Tiffany Murch, who is serving with the U.S. Navy in Florida.

Murch rode in a CHP vehicle driven by Mike Pugh. At the intersection of Church and Culver Streets, where her parents, Frank and Jackie Murch, were setting up the Downhill Derby, Tiffany popped out of the vehicle to surprise her parents, Jackie and Frank.

Earlier in the day, Frank Murch had fallen out of a truck while unloading hay bales. While he was using crutches to move around, he refused to get medical attention until the conclusion of the downhill derby.

Doxie Dasch

Twenty-one doxies — some traveling from Redding and Livermore — participated in the Doxie Dasch, reported chair Carmen Armstrong. Claiming top honors was Desaray, a 2-year-old dauschund owned by Lee Patten of Redding.

“It was absolutely great. People had such fun,” said Armstrong.