POWAY -- Poway, known as the "City in the Country," showed off its community spirit Saturday in the Poway Days Heritage Parade.

Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, the parade was one of four kickoff events for the 45th annual two-week community celebration known as Poway Days.

Thousands of spectators watched the 78 entries in a creative procession of vehicles and characters along Poway Road.

The Poway Rodeo Association float received loud applause for its live musician, huge plastic horse, and real horses adorned with pink leis. The NRA-sponsored rodeo -- the three-day grand finale of Poway Days -- is scheduled for Sept. 28-30.

Jay Jeffcoat, a Poway native, provided an entertaining narrative of history and details about each participant. Jeffcoat, the parade's announcer for the last six years said, "Involvement in parades like this reaffirms what's great in our community. Volunteers make communities work."

Marching bands from Poway, Westview, and Rancho Bernardo high schools were crowd favorites.

"We came because my son really likes the bands," said Poway resident Patti Wynhamer. "He points out all the instruments. It's also nice to watch for people we know participating in the parade."

The parade featured a Wells Fargo Bank stagecoach, daredevil John Deere tractor drivers, school board members riding in fancy cars, city princesses perfecting their pageant waves, aging Shriners racing each other in miniature cars, and acrobatic Girl Scouts doing cartwheels along the route.

Poway residents Mary Anne and Craig Dickson marched and biked with their two sons in Cub Pack 608 and daughter in Girl Scout Troop 8648.

"It's all about smiling, waving and having fun," said Mary Anne.

Craig added, "The parade starts out the school year right."

Poway Democratic Club President Pete Babich said his group participated to "work with the community and prove there are Democrats in Poway." They also brought along Mike Lumpkin, California's 52nd Congressional District candidate, for increased visibility.

The event began with the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast put on by the Poway Lions that started at 7 a.m. at the Senior Center. Former Lions president and volunteer Joe Waltuch said in all the years he's helping with breakfast, he's "never seen the parade."

Acting Poway Lions President and Executive Director of the Senior Center Blaine McCafferty said involvement in Poway Days means "you accomplish more with a group than you can as an individual."

Many parade participants and spectators eventually ended up at Poway Community Park for Community Day, sponsored by the city, or at the sixth annual Poway Transmissions Motorhead Madness classic car show.

The carnival atmosphere at the 23rd annual Community Day featured amusement park rides, several inflatable jumpers, a climbing wall, a Home Depot workshop tent for kids, live music, a chili cook-off, and demonstrations of karate, cheerleading, tap and ballet, special needs dance, and gymnastics. A fireworks display ended the day.

Upcoming Poway Days events include "Good neighbor day" in which florists donate roses to anyone who wants one, a casino night sponsored by the Poway Rodeo Association, Poway Community Theatre performances, Pig in the Pit Barbecue, and Poway Rodeo.