We all have heard about a pride of lions, a gaggle of geese, a school of fish and we are mesmerized whenever we sight a collection of animals. But did you ever hear about a parade of swans? Yes, it can only be seen in Stratford, Ontario, Canada during the spring. And when the Stratford swans are paraded into the Avon river to resume the life aquatic welcoming the season of spring, it is no ordinary dunking. Announcing the arrival of the spring, a parade of Swans is the most blissful sight, and this is one of Canada’s most quirky and unique events which takes place every year in April. This year too, on April 8, thousands of people took part in the annual Swan parade at Stratford as 21 swans walk into the river.

The Swans have paraded through the streets on the first weekend of April, waddling from their winter pens to the banks of the Avon river. This is the swan’s moment! While the swan-themed festivities started on April 7, the Sunday’s feature event was in hazard. As per reports the Avon River received an unexpected ice cover during the end of last week. If the ice did not melt, it was not possible for the 21 swans to walk into the river.

Watch the video of Stratford Swan Parade!

Thankfully, the ice was gone, and the Swan parade could go ahead. The parade has been happening since 1936 and it has become a formal parade at Stratford, Ontario for the past 25 years. First the swans hear the stirring strains of a pipe band march, then the Stratford Police pipes and drums. The swans follow closely behind, doing their best to march along in time. They look elegant as they walk into the Avon river. The reports further suggest that it was only on April 8 morning, the call to continue with the walk was taken. The weather was too cold, but it did not stop either the swans or the crowd form gracing the season with their walk.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 11, 2018 12:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).