Participants in Saturday’s Popcorn Festival parade in downtown Valparaiso agreed the miles of marching were worth it. So did the attendees.

“It’s just packed with people,” Mayor Jon Costas said, after witnessing the crowd along the parade route from atop a float.

“It’s like a Midwest Mardi Gras,” Center Township Trustee Jesse Harper said.

Instead of beads, he and others tossed candy to children along the route. “I have to listen to my father’s advice because he’s done many of these parades,” Harper said.

Harper didn’t listen hard enough, he said, because the 50 pounds of candy he had purchased wasn’t enough. By the time his team got to Campbell Street, it was all gone. “We’re always overzealous at the beginning.”

Along the long parade route, Harper enjoyed seeing clients he has helped

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