Storybook beginning: Lies trio revels in CALF welcome to Abilene

You know you're famous when Kornpop takes your photo.

Welcome to Abilene, Brian Lies, where anything is possible. Even a camera made out of balloons.

"We'll see what develops," Kornpop popped off.

Lies, his wife, Lauren, and their grown daughter, Maddy, rode Thursday as guests of honor in the Storybook Parade, then unveiled Steve Neves' sculpture of Evan - the fox from Lies' award-winning book "The Rough Patch"- at Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden.

Mattie Spaulding, a junior musician at Abilene High, drummed as the tarp was removed to applause.

There was Evan, sharing his ice cream cone with his dog.

"This is beyond what I could've possibly expected," Lies said after he patted the dog's head and side-hugged his beaming wife.

What a way to start the 11th annual Children's Art and Literacy Festival.

"I was able to see very small process photos of what this was like," Lies said to the crowd surrounding him after seeing the sculpture for the first time. "I hadn't seen the whole thing yet until this moment. This is an incredible thing for someone to encounter."

He praised Neves, not for getting the shapes right - which he expected, but capturing the character of Evan.

"This is absolutely mind blowing. Steve, thank you so much," Lies said, shaking hands with the sculptor.

Evan and his best friend now reside in the shady northwest corner of the garden, near a bear, tractor and tiger.

It didn't take a minute for youngsters to sit on the limestone next to Evan to pet his dog. That interaction, of course, is what the outdoor collection of sculptures is all about.

There were a few new twists this year at the Storybook Parade.

First, while Lies and Co. were presented early on in the parade lineup, Spalding pulled into the shade of the Paramount Theatre and the three guests watched the parade go by. In the past, the artist hasn't been able to do that.

"Oh my gosh, it's incredible," Lies remarked from under the marquee that bore his name in lights.

Secondly, each year of the CALF was featured on a float, a more organized presentation than ever.

Storybook and other characters were abundant. That included the Grinch, dressed as Santa Claus, who showed up and was immediately popular with youngsters despite it being June.

It was the first parade for Weldon Hurt as mayor. It may be why he sought the job.

In another vehicle were City Council members, dressed unlike they'll ever be seen in council chambers at City Hall. Former councilwoman Donna Albus' hats had nothing on what these guys wore Thursday.

State Rep. Stan Lambert, away from Austin and all the characters there, was one vehicle ahead.

And when was the last time you saw the young women who ride Hardin-Simmons' Six White Horses wearing gowns instead of jeans and boots?

A red 1964 Ford F-100 hauled an oversized pumpkin north on Cypress. The giant fruit seemed to weigh down the truck, evidently a prize-winner from Evan's garden.

The parade stopped at North Fifth Street, due to ongoing work at the DoubleTree by Hilton between Fifth and Sixth streets. It will be interesting next year to see how this parade, and others, go off with the hotel in operation.

Sure, the CALF focuses on the artist, but what it's like for those who tag along?

If Lies is the king this weekend, then his wife is the queen.

Lauren Lies thoroughly enjoyed cruising on Cypress Street in Dick Spalding's red BMW convertible, waving to the crowd of youngsters and adults waving back.

"I tell you what, once in your life, if you're not a beauty queen and you need another reason to get in a convertible, that was a good one," she said, laughing.

She paused.

"You know what? I've never seen such a sense of community and caring as I have here in Abilene," she said. The couple lives in New England. "You folks have more heart than I've ever seen before. "It's a community built on character, and it shows in everything you do.

"It truly blew us away."

As the Lies trio made its way to the unveiling, the author-illustrator squatted to have his photo taken with 5-year-old Marley Bell. She had won first place in the costume contest as Mama Bat. She also has written a book, "Marley and the Lab Cats: Bathtub Science," which she presented to Lies. He promised to read her work later.

Thought they're not from Abilene, the family has had a local tie. Alex Bell played football at Hardin-Simmons, earning all-America honors.

Lauren Lies watched the interaction, smiling broadly.