Let’s begin at the outside and work our way in.

First, crowds clustered around refreshment tables and lines streamed out of a few open restaurants. When you put together temperatures in the mid-80s, humidity of about 65 percent and a couple hours in the sun — well, a cold beverage and a snack are nice.

“Most of the places that are open and have something to drink are probably making a killing,” said Jan Anderson, an Ames resident for 51 years.

Now, the clearly demarcated divisions actually on Main Street on Sunday: Seated with heads resting or standing with backs against the storefronts were the smart ones, the people taught by experience that it’s possible to stay out of the sun and still have a decent look at the proceedings.

Anderson, who in 1976 saw the last city-sponsored parade in Ames as it went up Northwestern Avenue, hinted the shade was crucial.

“… I’d be home in the air conditioning if I wasn’t here,” she said.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy took advantage of a narrow aisle in front of this back row after completing his role in the parade. The passage isn’t quite in the shade, so he slung his cardinal sport jacket over his arm.

This all took place behind the people along the undulating curbs of Main Street — (mostly) the young parents. They, too, alternately stand or sit, either worriedly attending on a hot July afternoon to the comfort of babies in strollers or keeping apprehensive eyes on mobile, enchanted-with-candy children — or, in some unfortunate cases, trying to do both.

“You just love that parking meter, don’t ya?” wonders one father. “I don’t know why.”

In the emptied parking spaces all along the downtown area between Clark Avenue and Duff Avenue were, of course, the children, the lucky and tireless recipients of tiny wrapped sugar-laden gifts from Iowa State’s first family, Ames’ City Council and a slew of candidates from the Story County and U.S. House races ready to seize headlines in this election year.

And, it goes without saying that down the center of Main Street danced, drove, walked and jogged the stars of the show, all observed with varying levels of interest by the mirrored layers on each side.

Outside Cafe Diem, the unmistakable odor of sunscreen permeated the air.

It was the first city-sponsored parade in Ames in 28 years.