The parade participants held their breath Saturday morning, wondering if it was going to rain or if the skies would continue to tease them with sprinkles. When the parade started at 10 a.m., the clouds parted enough for rays of sunlight to illuminate the walking rainbow of floats, dancers, musicians and animals.

The Parade of Champions grew to almost 200 entries in its second year. For the past 20 years, the United Tribes Parade of Champions and Bismarck-Mandan's Folkfest Parade were separate, until last year when the two parades were combined for a multicultural event.

For some paradegoers it has become a family event. Adorned in traditional regalia, four generations of Gillette men from the Three Affiliated Tribes sat together, waving to the crowd, enjoying their time together. They also are performing at the powwow, but won't dance together. Russell Gillette, the oldest, said he has been performing since the 1970s.

The men didn't throw candy into the crowd, but younger generations of Gillettes who were on the float did. And to many of the parade participants, throwing candy is the best part.

Charles Renfrow, 80, Bismarck, had his Corvette packed with candy. The little basket in front of his red scooter was filled with candy bars and an assortment of fruity Tootsie Rolls. The workers at Edgewood Vista, where Renfrow lives, tease him about his scooter.

"It's his fancy wheels," said Marcy Kouba, a CNA and CMA at Edgewood Vista.

Renfrow teased back, saying he should get a sidecar attached to his scooter for Kouba to ride in.

He was in the parade last year and has a strategy for throwing candy from his scooter.

"I like to see the little kids that run out to get the candy and are disappointed when they didn't get any; those are the ones I like to throw to," he said.

For some kids, the Saturday parade is about performing and not getting candy, but experienced parade performers know how to perform and still grab a few pieces when no one is looking.

Jennifer Albers, 11, of Bismarck, has been in parades for five years as a gymnastics performer. Part of her costume is black knit gloves. When she's not doing cartwheels, handstands or backflips, she said she slips a piece or two of candy into her gloves.

Shauna Long, 12, of Fort Yates, sat on the hood of a pickup covered in brightly colored flags and blankets. She threw out candy to the crowd, but for every few pieces she tossed, she'd treat herself to one.

It didn't rain during the parade, and by time it was over, the clouds and had parted, opening the skies up for a sunny day.