Entries in Friday's annual Vigilante Day Parade ran the gamut from traditional to obscure in their portrayals of Montana's early days.

Floats ranged from variations on mining to one that had something to do with loud music, a dead rock star and kegs of beer. Girls threw flour at each other in numerous baking displays; both boys and girls took a few rounds in the boxing ring to recreate the famous 1923 Jack Dempsey match in Shelby; and the requisite saloons and soiled doves paraded down Last Chance Gulch.

This was the 30th parade viewed by Parrot Confectionery co-owner Dave Duensing, who said he's had a good time watching them all.

"The kids are having fun, and everybody's out enjoying themselves. That's what it's all about," Duensing said with a broad smile. "It's a great way to try to teach them some Montana history."

It's unclear if that history translated well for Braeden Dale, 8, and Christine Fisher. Both said their favorite floats were the ones where the vigilantes hanged people.

"I don't know why n I just like it the best," Fisher said, giggling.

Her mom, Leslie Fisher, was in the parade in 1988 and laughed at the students "creativity with history."

Some of the other crowd favorites included the "Red Neck Yacht Club" and the float commemorating the 1935 earthquake, which featured a guy lying down portraying the Sleeping Giant and a singer belting out "It's the End of the World As We Know It."

The Cabin Creek Bar also elicited squeals from onlookers as they realized the two boys sitting with their pants around their ankles were showing the world the camaraderie bestowed by the old two-holer outhouses. The crowd let out a collective sigh when people realized they weren't being flashed.

Friday's parade was the fourth or fifth enjoyed by Chuck Cruse, who said he made the trip downtown especially to view the floats.

"Everybody loves a parade," he said, relaxing on a picnic table. "These kids have put a lot of work into it."