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Wilma Goodtooth and Betty Beautiful — aka Rhonda Vlach and Sandy Brandt of Fremont — were a big hit with children and adults alike as they strolled the milelong parade route pushing a shopping cart loaded with candy. The dynamic duo were dressed in garish dresses, fur-trimmed floppy hats and oversize sunglasses for their 10th consecutive appearance in the parade.

“We have never registered for (the parade), so we're not official entries,” Vlach said. “We just jump in after the bigwigs go past.”

Brandt said the two had a secret weapon to battle the 90-plus degree heat: they taped bags of frozen vegetables to their upper bodies.

“We like to say that the (vegetables) are ready to eat by the time we reach the end of the (parade) route,” Brandt said.

The parade is the culmination of a three-day citywide celebration that includes a hot-air balloon glow, Chautauqua tent, rodeo, street dance, living history encampments, music and a race in high-heel shoes. This year, volunteers built and devoured a 1,652-pound Spam sandwich that may wind up certified by Guinness World Records.

As is the custom, the parade was led by residents portraying Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont and his wife, Jessie Benton Fremont. Barry Reker and Susan Allen filled the parts in historically accurate costumes while riding in a horse-drawn carriage.

Reker, in his second year as the general, said the all-wool Army uniform helped him shed some pounds last year.

“We were just saying that there probably weren't a lot of overweight people back in the day because of the (heavy) clothes they had to wear,” Reker said. “But it's a lot of fun. The kids all want to know if the sword is real — and it is.”

Allen, who has been the general's lady for 10 years, said the parade is her favorite part of the celebration.

“People stop me on the street all the time and they will say ‘Oh, you're Mrs. Fremont,' ” she said. “Like a lot of people here, I look forward to this weekend all year long.”

Hundreds of people lined the parade route, many crammed into whatever slivers of shade they could find.

Mike and Chris Ireland of Fremont watched from the doorway of a Main Street store as two preteen grandsons sporting Mohawk haircuts snagged handfuls of candy distributed by parade marchers.

“If we don't bring the kids every year, then we hear about it,” Mike Ireland said. “The whole (celebration) does a lot to bring the community together.”

Former Fremont residents Gov. Dave Heineman and first lady Sally Ganem said walking the parade route is on their must-do list every year.

Ganem said she marvels at how the event has grown. She remembers pitching in when Sue Reyzlik, Patti Emanuel-Vaughan and Cherrie Clarke began organizing events for the first John C. Fremont Days in 1987.

“It makes it particularly exciting for me because I know how it all got started,” Ganem said. “Now, to see the parade and all the events survive for so long … it's very special.”