Alina Peterson's eyes lit up as a convertible carrying a bevy of beauty queens rolled past her Saturday on North Main Street in Sebastopol.
The pigtailed 6-year-old, who was attending the 68th annual Apple Blossom Festival and Parade with her mom and friends from Reach Charter School, rushed out into the street to greet them.
"Hi princesses!" she said, waving at Miss Sonoma County's Outstanding Teen and her court.
It was a royal experience for Alina and thousands of others who turned out under cloudy skies for the start of the two-day event honoring the town's rich, apple-growing history.
They lined the town's main drag to see a parade featuring more than 100 entries including crowd-pleasing marching bands, floats and furry animals such as high-stepping llamas and little dogs in top hats.
"Oh, they are so cute," said Alina.
Her mother, Sebastopol native Daniela Kingwill, snagged a curbside spot the night before, laying a Mexican blanket on the sidewalk.
It was there when she arrived Saturday morning with her regular contingent from Analy High School, Class of 1988.
"I always feel weird putting it down," said Kingwill, a Sonoma State University instructor. "Then I'm like, 'No, no. It's fine.'"
Her high school friend, Oakland resident Zephyr Albright, said the fact that no one bothered it is a testament to Sebastopol's enduring small-town charm.
"You know the town will have changed when you can no longer leave your stuff the night before," Albright said.
Sebastopol, once known as the Gravenstein apple capital of the world, was incorporated in 1902. Its population is about 7,400, according to the 2011 census.
Police Chief Jeff Weaver said the population typically doubles during the annual festival as people from around the region come to town.
Weaver walked along Main Street in full uniform, shaking hands with bystanders.
"It looks to be a healthy crowd today," he said.
This year's theme — Red, White and Blues Blossoms — has a musical twist. Blues Hall-of-Famer Joe Louis Walker and singer Janiva Magness are headline acts Sunday afternoon at Ives Park.
Festival admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. Children 10 and under are free.
Meanwhile, the parade was the early draw Saturday. People arrived hours before the 10 a.m. start to stake claim to their viewing spots with chairs and blankets.
It kicked off with a flurry of police car lights and sirens. Gray-haired veterans marched behind them carrying flags.
Kids sitting on the curb chanted, "We want candy!" as people in floats tossed handfuls of beads and gum.
"This is what a true, small-town parade it all about," said Sebastopol resident Lawrence Jaffe. "I'd say it's pretty authentic."
(You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.)
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