Photo courtesy of Andy Hart/Hartford News. The Hartford News can be picked up at City Hall, the Hartford Public Library, and other locations around the city.

You could have arrived with the expectation of spectating, only to get talked into marching, throwing candy, and wearing accessories that you did not bring. This year’s Hooker Day Parade continued with the tradition of adding some festivity and much-needed freakiness to Downtown Hartford. The spectators on Saturday were often as interesting as those marching: children in costume, dogs in costumes, a man wearing a cat (living) on his shoulders, a woman wearing a dog (living) on her shoulders.
Missed it? Mark your calendar for next October.