Scotch Broom Parade

Boys & Girls Clubs of King County is dedicated to creating educational and fun programming for teens. Across the county each Club has unique activities that cater to individual communities.

Scotch Broom Parade 2019! (Photo Taken pre pandemic)

One of the highlights of springtime at the Bainbridge Island Club is the Scotch Broom Parade. It is a fun tradition where Keystone Teens get to connect with the Bainbridge Island community at large.  

The Scotch Broom Parade is affectionately known as a “non-event.” Teens work with The Kiwanis Club of Bainbridge Island, an organization that completes service and fundraising projects, to plan a pop-up parade down main street Bainbridge. The specific time is not announced, instead it is more of a right place at the right time situation. It is a joyous occasion as everyone in the immediate vicinity is invited to participate. The event culminates when a random person is named “Queen or King of the Scotch Brooms.” Following the short event they clean up, and it is as if nothing has occurred.

Cat Thompson, the operations director at Bainbridge, lauds the teens for putting so much planning and effort into a comparably short event. They even organized a virtual parade during the pandemic and are looking forward to bringing it back to in-person this year. This parade is an excellent example of the teens’ grit and can-do attitude. It also showcases their creative and silly side. We are so lucky to have teens in our community who are equally as excited to participate in a whimsical event as they are to mentor younger Club members.

Preparing for the parade in 2019!

Teens at our Bainbridge Island Club bring this same level of dedication to everything they do; whether that is planning a Parent’s Night Out, Teen Late night, or fundraising for community nonprofits.  We are so proud of everything they’ve accomplished and are thrilled to see all that’s to come this year!