By CLAYTON PARK

As a native Seattleite who grew up in Wallingford, just a few blocks north of what is today Gas Works Park, I have many fond memories of Seafair - including once the thrill of seeing "Partridge Family" TV star Danny Bonaducci, who was close to my age, run around a float in the Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown. He was being "chased" by his co-star, the grownup who played the Partridge Family's band manager Ruben Kinkaid.

But in all my years of attending Seafair events, there is only one parade that I can say I actually PARTICIPATED in when I was 12 or so: the Wallingford Kiddies Parade. It was all quite by accident: Me and a couple of my friends were riding our bikes when we suddenly came upon the parade in progress, along North 45th. Someone invited us to join in, which we promptly did, even though we didn't have costumes or belong to any particular group. We had a blast - the closest experience I had ever had, up to that point, of being "on stage." To this day, whenever Wallingford Kiddies Parade time rolls around, I think fondly of that day.

I'm happy to report that it's Wallingford Kiddies Parade once again, and that the event remains as participatory as ever.

This year marks the 51st annual Wallingford Kiddies Parade, a Seafair-sanctioned event that will be held on Sunday, July 16th, beginning at 2 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Wallingford Community Council and the Wallingford Chamber of Commerce, this year's Kiddies Parade is expected to feature hundreds of children, ranging from costumed drill teams, marching bands, fire trucks and Seafair clowns, to regular kids on bikes, pulling wagons, holding balloons and/or showing off their leashed pets.

Like always, "everyone is welcome" to participate, says parade co-chair Karen Buschow, president of the Wallingford Community Council.

If you're in a group, pick up an application from the Wallingford Community Council, by calling 206-632-4759 or send e-mail to: janet.stillman@wllingford.org.

If you're an individual, show up at 1:30 p.m. on the day of the parade at the parade staging area, the parking lot of the former Boston Market at Sunnyside Avenue N and N 45th.

"Kids are encouraged to dress up in costume, but it's not absolutely necessary," says Janet Stillman, who is also a co-chair of the parade, along with Buschow and James Eaton. "They're also welcome to bring pets or ride bikes. It's a very open and inclusive parade. Any child who wants to march is welcome."

The parade route, as in past years, is along North 45th, beginning at Sunnyside heading west to the parking lot at the former Lincoln High School. The reviewing stand is at Wallingford Center.

For the first time ever, Wallingford Community Council and Wallingford Chamber members are selling a commemorative limited edition Wallingford Kiddies Parade T-shirt, designed by Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist David Horsey of the Seattle P-I, who also happens to be a Wallingford resident. The T-shirt features a cartoon image of Kiddies Parade participants, and this year's parade slogan: "Wallingford Seafair Kiddies Parade: Kids, Kats and Kanines."

The T-shirts are currently available in front of the Wallingford QFC, and at various shops along North 45th and will also be sold at the parade itself. The adult-size T-shirts are $12 and the children's size T-shirts are $8.

Proceeds from sales of the T-shirts will be used to help cover the costs of improvements to the Wallingford Playfield Playground and Meridian Park Playground.